Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cutaneous toxoplasmosis causing skin pustules and nodules in two dogs
By Hoffmann, Aline Rodrigues et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc·2012·Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cutaneous toxoplasmosis in two dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old mixed-breed dog developed itchy skin with multiple pus-filled bumps, while a 3-year-old Labrador had just one lump under the skin. Both dogs were diagnosed with cutaneous toxoplasmosis, a rare infection caused by a parasite. They were treated with an antibiotic called clindamycin. Unfortunately, the mixed-breed dog’s condition worsened, leading to breathing and neurological issues, and it had to be euthanized. The Labrador, however, fully recovered without any further skin problems.
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Abstract
Cutaneous toxoplasmosis has been previously reported in human beings, rarely reported in cats, and reported in 1 dog with systemic toxoplasmosis. The present report describes 2 cases of cutaneous toxoplasmosis in 2 dogs treated with immunosuppressive therapy. One of the dogs developed generalized cutaneous pustules and pruritus, and the other dog only had a single subcutaneous nodule. Microscopically, skin biopsies showed moderate to severe pyogranulomatous and necrotizing dermatitis and panniculitis, with multifocal vasculitis and vascular thrombosis. Single or aggregates of protozoal tachyzoites were mostly intracytoplasmic and occasionally extracellular. The etiology was confirmed in both cases by immunohistochemistry and by polymerase chain reaction assays, which were followed by nucleic acid sequencing. Both patients were treated with clindamycin. The dog with generalized lesions developed pulmonary and neurological signs and was euthanized. The dog with a single nodule recovered completely with no remission of cutaneous lesions.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22529142/