Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Nasal swab PCR helps diagnose and track nasal fungal infection in dogs
By Biénès, Tom et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2022·Department of Clinical Sciences·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Utility of fungal polymerase chain reaction on nasal swab samples in the diagnosis and monitoring of sinonasal aspergillosis in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with nasal problems, including 20 diagnosed with sinonasal aspergillosis (a fungal infection), were tested using a nasal swab to detect the presence of fungal DNA. The tests showed that 65% of the dogs with sinonasal aspergillosis had detectable levels of the specific fungus, while none of the healthy dogs tested positive. This method can help veterinarians diagnose and monitor the condition without needing more invasive procedures. The findings suggest that nasal swabs can be a useful tool for identifying and tracking this infection in dogs.
People also search for: dog nasal infection treatment · sinonasal aspergillosis in dogs · dog nasal swab test results
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In dogs with sinonasal aspergillosis (SNA) the utility of PCR in the diagnosis and monitoring of the disease after treatment has not been assessed. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the presence of fungal DNA using quantitative PCR targeting Aspergillus fumigatus (Aspfum) and Aspergillus spp. (PanAsp), and PCR targeting multiple fungal species (PanFun), in samples obtained from nasal cavities of dogs with SNA, other nasal diseases and healthy dogs. ANIMALS: Sixty-two dogs including 20 with SNA, 12 with cured SNA (of which 10 are from the SNA group), 20 dogs with Non-SNA nasal disease, and 20 healthy dogs. METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional study. Aspfum, PanAsp, and PanFun were performed on blindly collected nasal swabs obtained in anesthetized dogs. RESULTS: In SNA dogs, Aspfum and PanAsp were positive in 13/20 and 14/20 dogs. In all dogs in the 3 other groups, A. fumigatus DNA was not detected using Aspfum. PanAsp was positive in 3 non-SNA dogs: 1 with cured SNA and 2 with Non-SNA nasal disease. A Ct cut-off value of 33.3 for Aspfum demonstrated 65% sensitivity and 100% specificity. A Ct cut-off value of 34.5 for PanAsp demonstrated 70% sensitivity and 96.2% specificity. PanFun was positive in 16/20, 12/12, 19/20, and 7/20 dogs in the SNA, cured SNA, Non-SNA, and healthy groups, respectively. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Aspfum and PanAsp on blindly collected nasal swabs can be useful for the detection of SNA at diagnosis and at cure, especially when more invasive methods are not available.
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/35712784/