Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Candida joint infection causing lameness in a Boxer dog
By Bufalari, Antonello et al.·Published in Acta veterinaria Scandinavica·2016·Department of Veterinary Medicine, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Management of Candida guilliermondii joint infection in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old male Boxer with a history of Leishmania infection was brought in for a left hind leg that wouldn’t bear weight for at least three months. Despite treatment with anti-inflammatory medications and corticosteroids, his lameness persisted. After examining his knee, the vet found a partial tear in the cranial cruciate ligament and discovered a Candida guilliermondii joint infection through fluid samples. The dog was treated with antifungal medications and joint flushing, which improved his lameness significantly. Four weeks later, he underwent surgery to stabilize his knee, and six months after that, he had fully recovered with no lameness.
People also search for: Boxer dog limping · Candida joint infection treatment · dog knee surgery recovery · Leishmania infection in dogs · antifungal treatment for dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Candida spp. are dimorphic fungi in the family Cryptococcaceae. Infections with Candida spp. are usually rare conditions in dogs, but immunocompromised patients have a higher risk for developing invasive candidal infections. CASE PRESENTATION: A 5-year-old male Boxer, positive to Leishmania infantum, was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy for examination of a non-weight bearing left hind limb lameness of a duration of at least 3 months. During this period, treatment involved systemic anti-inflammatory medications and intra-articular corticosteroid administration. On presentation, clinical examination and radiographic findings were suggestive of cranial cruciate ligament deficiency. To support this diagnosis a stifle arthroscopy was performed: it confirmed a partial rupture of cranial cruciate ligament. Samples culture of synovial fluid and membrane was routinely collected as well, and revealed Candida guilliermondii joint infection. Treatment for the C. guilliermondii joint infection involved systemic anti-fungal therapy, joint lavage and intra-articular administration of antifungal drugs. Lameness improved markedly during this treatment, but lameness did not resolve completely, probably due to cranial cruciate ligament deficiency. Tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) was chosen in order to treat stifle instability and was performed 4 weeks following cessation of treatment of the C. guilliermondii joint infection. Six month after TTA the dog showed a completely recovery with no lameness. CONCLUSIONS: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of Candida spp. joint infection reported in dogs. The cause of the progression of the joint C. guilliermondii infection remains unclear but it may be associated with leishmaniasis or intra-articular corticosteroid injections. Treatment with systemic and intra-articular anti-fungal therapies was successful. In the evaluation of hind limb lameness in a chronically immunocompromised dog, it would be advisable to consider also an intra-articular Candida spp.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27391227/