Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
German Shepherd dog with spinal bone infection from Scedosporium
By Hugnet, Christophe et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc·2009·Clinique Vé, France·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Osteomyelitis and discospondylitis due to Scedosporium apiospermum in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 6-year-old female German Shepherd was brought in with a severe problem in her back legs and a sudden fever. Blood tests showed an increase in white blood cells, and X-rays revealed serious bone infections in her spine and legs. Unfortunately, due to the severity of her condition and the pain she was in, her owners decided to euthanize her. A post-mortem examination found significant damage in her spine caused by a fungal infection from Scedosporium apiospermum, which is known to affect pets with weakened immune systems.
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Abstract
A 6-year-old, 30-kg, female German Shepherd Dog, living in a leishmaniasis enzootic area, was presented with a severe rear limb motor disorder and a medical history of acute onset of fever. Routine hematology indicated neutrophilia. Spinal survey radiographs were consistent with osteomyelitis and discospondylitis. Because of the poor clinical prognosis and the painful nature of the lesions, the dog was euthanized at the owners' request. At necropsy, T13-L1 vertebrae had large areas of necrosis within the vertebral bodies. Histopathological findings were consistent with chronic, severe, fungal osteomyelitis and discospondylitis. Polymerase chain reaction identified Scedosporium apiospermum, a eutrophic filamentous fungus now recognized as an emerging agent of severe infections in immunosuppressed human patients.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19139512/