Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Systemic Aspergillosis Causing Spine Infection in German Shepherd Dog
By Talita Bordoni et al.·Published in Veterinary Medicine and Science·2025·Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna Bologna Italy, GB·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: First Description of Atypical Aspergillus floccosus as Cause of Canine Systemic Aspergillosis With Discospondylitis
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old spayed female German Shepherd was brought in with neck pain, difficulty walking, and lameness in her left front leg that had been worsening over two weeks. Tests revealed she had a rare fungal infection caused by an unusual strain of Aspergillus floccosus, which was linked to her spinal issues. The veterinarian started antifungal treatment, which is crucial for managing this type of infection, even when symptoms seem mild. With the right therapy, the dog can improve and avoid serious complications.
People also search for: German Shepherd neck pain · dog walking problems · antifungal treatment for dogs · canine systemic aspergillosis symptoms
Abstract
ABSTRACT Disseminated aspergillosis is uncommon in dogs and typically caused by Aspergillus terreus. This report describes a systemic aspergillosis linked to discospondylitis in an 8‐year‐old spayed female German Shepherd presented with a 2‐week history of neck pain, progressive proprioceptive ataxia and ambulatory paraparesis and lameness of the left front limb. For the first time, an atypical strain of Aspergillus floccosus, section Terrei, was identified by culture and molecular methods. This finding emphasises the importance of molecular biology in fungal species identification, which is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Our report further highlights that fungal infections should always be considered in German Shepherds with neurological signs, and the importance of maintaining antifungal therapy even in patients with few or no clinical or laboratory signs of active infection to prevent deterioration and death.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70466