Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Puppy with lung sarcocystosis and distemper in Costa Rica
By Berrocal, Alexis & López, Alfonso·Published in Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc·2003·Departamento de Patologí·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Pulmonary sarcocystosis in a puppy with canine distemper in Costa Rica.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 10-week-old Rottweiler puppy was brought to the vet after experiencing diarrhea, vomiting, and weakness for four days. The vet found that the puppy had both canine distemper and a rare lung infection caused by a parasite called Sarcocystis canis. This infection was initially mistaken for another type of parasite but was confirmed through special testing. The puppy's condition highlights the importance of accurate testing for diagnosing infections in dogs. Treatment details are not provided, but early diagnosis is crucial for managing such infections.
People also search for: puppy vomiting and diarrhea · Rottweiler distemper treatment · Sarcocystis canis in dogs
Abstract
Canine distemper and pulmonary sarcocystosis were diagnosed in a 10-week-old Rottweiler with 4-day history of diarrhea, vomiting, and weakness. Microscopic examination of the lung revealed bronchointerstitial pneumonia typical of morbillivirus infection. Also, numerous apicomplexan parasites were scattered in the alveolar walls. This protozoan infection was first thought to be toxoplasmosis but immunoperoxidase staining revealed large numbers of Sarcocystis canis. This is the first case of canine sarcocystosis reported from Latin America that further emphasizes the importance of immunohistochemistry in the differential diagnoses of apicomplexan infections in dogs.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12735355/