Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with widespread Chlorella algae infection causing ataxia
By Quigley, R R et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2009·Oakland Veterinary Referral Services, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Disseminated chlorellosis in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog with ataxia (loss of coordination) and a mass on its tongue was euthanized after a diagnosis of protothecosis, a type of infection caused by algae. During the postmortem exam, the vet found green discoloration in various organs, including the lungs and liver, and signs of inflammation caused by the algae. The infection was identified as Chlorella, a green alga, which had spread throughout the dog's body. Unfortunately, the dog did not survive, and this case marks the first known instance of this type of algae infection in a pet.
People also search for: dog ataxia causes · tongue mass in dogs · Chlorella infection in pets
Abstract
An adult dog with ataxia and a lingual mass, previously diagnosed as protothecosis, was euthanized. At the postmortem examination, the lingual mass, regions of the lungs and hilar lymph nodes, liver, mesenteric and sublumbar lymph nodes, and spinal meninges had pronounced green discoloration. Histologically, pyogranulomatous inflammation and algal organisms were found in the tongue, spinal meninges, hilar and mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, and lung. The algae had cell walls positive for periodic acid-Schiff and cytoplasmic granules. Ultrastructurally, the algae had a well-defined cell wall, stacks of grana and thylakoid membrane, and dense bodies, typical of starch granules. The organisms were identified as Chlorella, a green alga, based on the results of histochemistical and electron microscopic examination. To the author's knowledge this is the first report of disseminated Chlorella infection and the first report in a companion animal.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19176504/