Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Neospora caninum infection causing septic belly infection in adult dog
By Holmberg, Tara A et al.·Published in Veterinary clinical pathology·2006·Department of Pathology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Neospora caninum associated with septic peritonitis in an adult dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old male neutered Rhodesian Ridgeback was brought to the vet with a 4-month history of abdominal discomfort, lethargy, and weakness. The dog had a swollen abdomen filled with fluid, and tests revealed a severe infection caused by a parasite called Neospora caninum. The vet used various tests, including blood tests and PCR analysis, to confirm the presence of this parasite in the dog's abdominal fluid. While the exact cause of the infection was unclear, the diagnosis helped guide treatment.
People also search for: dog abdominal swelling · Rhodesian Ridgeback lethargy · Neospora caninum treatment · dog peritonitis symptoms · septic infection in dogs
Abstract
A 7-year-old, male neutered Rhodesian Ridgeback dog was referred to the University of California-Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital with a 4-month history of peritonitis and episodic abdominal discomfort, lethargy, and weakness. Marked abdominal distension with a prominent fluid wave was noted on physical examination. Cytologic analysis of the abdominal fluid indicated a septic exudate with mixed bacteria and many protozoal zoites. Differentials for the identity of the protozoal zoites included Toxoplasma gondii, Sarcocystis neurona, and Neospora caninum. Indirect latex agglutination antigen testing, standard indirect fluorescent antibody testing, and PCR analysis were performed to identify the zoites. The dog's serum antibody titer for N caninum tachyzoites was 1:20,480, known polysera to N caninum reacted against zoites in the abdominal fluid, and PCR analysis of the abdominal fluid was positive for the presence of a known gene of N caninum. Based on the morphologic, immunologic, and molecular findings, the zoites were identified as N caninum. It remains unclear how the tachyzoites gained access to the peritoneal cavity. To the authors' knowledge, there are no reports of free N caninum in abdominal fluid of any species.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16783720/