Canine pododermatitis caused by Pichia jadinii

Abstract

A five-year-old male neutered mixed breed dog was presented with asymmetric pododermatitis. The left front paw was characterised by interdigital hyperplasia and erythema, particularly between the third and fourth digits on the palmar aspect. The area was sampled with a 6-mm punch biopsy for histopathological evaluation, aerobic culture and anaerobic culture. Histopathology from the footpad lesion revealed pyogranulomatous dermatitis and panniculitis. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain of the tissues revealed several hair shafts containing PAS-positive hyphae. Fungal PCR was positive and the fungal organism was identified as Pichia jadinii by DNA sequencing. The dog was treated systemically with the antifungal ketoconazole. After initiation of therapy the lesion resolved within eight weeks; the ketoconazole was discontinued after three months and no relapse was seen over the following year. P jadinii should be considered as a differential diagnosis for pododermatitis in dogs. Identification via PCR and DNA sequencing may be needed to identify this organism.