Acanthamoebiasis in a Dog

Abstract

Acanthamoeba infection occurred in a 4-year-old military working dog (German shepherd). The disease was manifested by multifocal necrohemorrhagic foci in the heart, lungs, liver, and pancreas. Numerous organisms morphologically compatible with Acanthamoeba sp. were seen in the lesions. The infection may have been caused by local invasion of a wound and hematogenous spread, via the respiratory tract, by inhalation of the organisms, or by direct extension of an inapparent nasal infection.

Systemic acanthamoebiasis associated with canine distemper in dogs in the semiarid region of Paraíba, Brazil

“…infection. Similar findings have been described in elsewhere (Ayers et al 1972, Pearce et al 1985, Bauer et al 1993, Dubey et al 2005, Reed et al 2010, Kent et al 2011.…”

“…is rare in dogs and is generally associated with immunosuppressive conditions such as canine distemper (Reed et al 2010), as seen in the three cases of this report, and corticosteroid therapy (Foreman et al 2004). However, some cases were described with absence of characteristic signs of immunosuppression (Ayers et al 1972, Bauer et al 1993.…”

“…In dogs, cases of infections by Acanthamoeba spp. and Balamuthia mandrillaris have been reported in Vietnam and several regions of the United States (Ayers et al 1972, Pearce et al 1985, Bauer et al 1993, Foreman et al 2004, Dubey et al 2005, Reed et al 2010, Kent et al 2011. Such infections showed acute or chronic systemic involvement mainly characterized by granulomatous inflammation associated with necrosis and hemorrhage in the lungs, heart, kidneys and brain.…”

“…These ubiquitous protozoa are found in soil, water and air in various regions of the world and have been incriminated as a cause of clinical disease in ruminants (Van der Lugt & Van der Merwe 1990, Morales et al 2006, Pimentel et al 2012, horses (Kinde et al 2007), dogs (Ayers et al 1972, Foreman et al 2004, Kent et al 2011) and wildlife (Lozano-Alarcón et al 1997). In dogs, cases of infections by Acanthamoeba spp.…”

Acanthamoeba spp. como parásitos patógenos y oportunistas

“…Además de casos en humanos, las infecciones sistémicas por Acanthamoeba han sido reportadas en ovejas, perros, monos y caballos 47,48 . Por otra parte, la queratitis amebiana ha sido reportada en más de 3.000 individuos hasta el año 2000, siendo las causas más comunes de esta infección el uso inapropiado de lentes de contacto por mujeres y un trauma corneal en hombres mayores a 50 años.…”