Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Skin infection called pythiosis in two Wisconsin dogs
By Oldenhoff, William et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2014·Department of Medical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cutaneous pythiosis in two dogs from Wisconsin, USA.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old Chesapeake Bay retriever and a 4-year-old German shepherd were both brought to the vet with unusual soft tissue swellings—one near the left eye and the other over the right hock. After testing, it was found that both dogs had cutaneous pythiosis, a rare infection caused by a water mold. The vet confirmed the diagnosis through tissue examination and specialized tests. Treatment options for this condition can vary, but early intervention is crucial for a better outcome.
People also search for: dog skin swelling treatment · pythiosis in dogs · Chesapeake Bay retriever eye swelling · German shepherd skin infection
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pythium insidiosum is an oomycete that causes cutaneous lesions or infiltrative gastrointestinal disease in dogs, cats, humans, horses and other mammals, primarily in tropical and subtropical climates. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: We report the clinicopathological findings associated with cutaneous pythiosis in two dogs from a Northern temperate climate zone. ANIMALS: A 3-year-old intact male Chesapeake Bay retriever was presented with an ulcerated soft-tissue swelling over the left eye. A 4-year-old spayed female German shepherd dog was presented with a soft-tissue swelling overlying the right hock. Both dogs lived in northern latitudes (between 43 and 45°N) and neither had travelled outside of Wisconsin or Michigan's upper peninsula, USA. METHODS: Histopathological examination and culture of affected tissues on specialized media, serology for anti-P. insidiosum antibodies, P. insidiosum-specific PCR and ribosomal RNA gene sequencing were carried out. RESULTS: Histopathological examination revealed pyogranulomatous and eosinophilic inflammation associated with wide, poorly septate hyphae. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Even clinicians who practice in temperate climates should consider pythiosis as a differential diagnosis for young to middle-aged adult dogs presented with ulcerated cutaneous nodules or infiltrative gastrointestinal disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24372864/