Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Whippet dog with Pneumocystis lung infection and severe air leak
By Weissenbacher-Lang, Christiane et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc·2017·Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine (Weissenbacher-Lang·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Pneumocystis carinii infection with severe pneumomediastinum and lymph node involvement in a Whippet mixed-breed dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3.5-year-old Whippet mixed-breed dog was brought to the vet because it was having trouble breathing and was not able to exercise. The dog also had skin issues and showed signs of a serious lung infection. After various tests, including a lung biopsy, the vet discovered a rare infection caused by a parasite called Pneumocystis carinii, which had spread to the lymph nodes in the chest. The dog underwent surgery to remove affected lung tissue and lymph nodes, and the diagnosis was confirmed through specialized lab tests. With treatment, the dog is expected to recover.
People also search for: dog breathing problems · Whippet lung infection treatment · dog exercise intolerance causes
Abstract
A 3.5-y-old Whippet mixed-breed dog was presented with a history of respiratory distress, exercise intolerance, and generalized demodicosis. Hematologic alterations included marked leukocytosis and neutrophilia. Radiographic examination showed a diffuse interstitial and mild peripheral alveolar lung pattern and pneumomediastinum. Because the cytologic examination of the bronchoalveolar aspirate was not diagnostic and a persistent perforation of the upper respiratory tract could not be ruled out, the dog was submitted to thoracoscopy, and subsequently the left cranial lung lobe as well as mediastinal and sternal lymph nodes were resected. Pulmonary pneumocystosis with spread to the thoracic lymph nodes was suspected after histologic investigation of lung and lymph nodes, which was confirmed by in situ hybridization, PCR, and subsequent Sanger sequencing. We document a rare, simultaneous occurrence of severe pulmonary and thoracic lymph node pneumocystosis with spontaneous pneumomediastinum in a dog. Definitive diagnosis was achieved through the use of Grocott methenamine silver staining, in situ hybridization, and PCR.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28548623/