Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Liver failure in two young dogs caused by histoplasmosis
By Whitman, Rachel E et al.·Published in Veterinary clinical pathology·2024·Department of Comparative, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hepatic insufficiency in two juvenile dogs with histoplasmosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 9-month-old female toy poodle and a 1-year-old female Labrador retriever mix were both brought to the vet for ongoing signs of lethargy and liver problems. Testing revealed that both dogs had a fungal infection called histoplasmosis, which was affecting their livers. The poodle's condition worsened despite treatment, leading to her being humanely euthanized, while the Labrador mix improved significantly after starting antifungal medication. This case highlights the importance of thorough testing to identify the correct cause of liver issues in dogs.
People also search for: dog liver problems · histoplasmosis in dogs · treatment for dog fungal infections
Abstract
A 9-month-old female intact toy poodle and a 1-year-old female intact Labrador retriever mix presented to separate teaching hospitals for chronic histories of malaise and clinicopathologic evidence of hepatic dysfunction. The signalment and clinical histories of these dogs prompted consideration of a congenital portosystemic shunt as a primary differential. However, microscopic evaluation of peritoneal effusion, pleural effusion, and peripheral blood samples from the dogs revealed round to ovoid yeast organisms morphologically most compatible with Histoplasma capsulatum. Additional testing confirmed histoplasmosis in each case. The poodle underwent a computed tomography (CT) study, which showed hepatomegaly with a spleno-gonadal shunt, pancreatic and gastric wall edema, and marked peritoneal effusion, findings compatible with portal hypertension and secondary acquired shunt formation. The dog was later humanely euthanized due to clinical deterioration, and on necropsy hepatic histoplasmosis was verified, with additional affected tissues comprising lungs and spleen. The Labrador Retriever mix responded clinically and clinicopathologically to antifungal therapy, though no abdominal imaging was performed to definitively exclude the possibility of a congenital portosystemic shunt. In retrospect, several features were more compatible with histoplasmosis than portosystemic shunt in these cases, including hyperbilirubinemia, effusion, and hepatomegaly. These findings serve as a reminder of the need to interpret serum biochemical findings in the context of the totality of the clinicopathologic data and imaging findings, as well as the diagnostic value of microscopy in the evaluation of hematologic and body cavity fluid samples.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38684471/