Intestinal Lesion in a Dog Due to Cryptococcus gattii Type VGII and Review of Published Cases of Canine Gastrointestinal Cryptococcosis

Abstract

Cryptococcosis is a mycosis caused by yeasts of genus Cryptococcus, mainly the species C. neoformans and C. gattii that can affect humans and animals. These yeasts are widely distributed in the environment and are typically associated with avian droppings and decaying wood. Most infections are related to the respiratory tract, but the central nervous system and cutaneous lesions are also reported in the literature. The present report is a case of cryptococcosis in an 18-month-old unspayed female English Bulldog with the main complaint of weight loss and diarrhea. The presence of two large masses observed in an ultrasound examination leads us to perform an exploratory laparotomy. Considering the size of the lesion and the impossibility of owner to provide intensive care, the consent for euthanasia was requested. The postmortem diagnosis of cryptococcosis was revealed by cytological evaluation, and the involvement of C. gattii VGII was confirmed by isolation and identification tests as well as by the detection of the URA5 gene restriction fragment length polymorphism PCR analysis. Reports in the literature of the involvement of Cryptococcus in gastrointestinal lesions are rare in both human and veterinary medicine. Data about different forms of cryptococcosis are important to provide more knowledge of uncommon clinical presentations of this yeast and therefore improve the diagnoses and decisions for the best therapy.

Ecoepidemiology of Cryptococcus gattii in Developing Countries

“…C. deuterogattii (genotype AFLP6/VGII) has been isolated from clinical samples and has been involved in meningitis, cutaneous diseases, and lung infection in immunocompetent and HIV-positive patients from Brazil [ 25 , 26 , 36 , 37 , 38 ], Colombia [ 29 ], Mexico [ 33 , 34 ], and French Guiana [ 45 ]. From Brazil, it was also reported causing disease in dogs [ 39 , 40 ]. C. deuterogattii is found in a variety of ecological niches, being isolated from tree detritus in Puerto Rico [ 46 ], from Moquilea tomentosa, Plathymenia reticulata, and Senna sianea in Brazil [ 18 , 41 , 42 ] and from Eucalyptus spp.…”

Criptococose intestinal em um cão: relato de caso

“…Após a realização da celiotomia exploratória, observou-se uma massa que media 18x7cm. O exame microbiológico da massa resultou no isolado do gênero Cryptococcus gattii (Abreu et al, 2017).…”

“…Alguns fatores predisponentes como o estresse, doenças concomitantes ou a administração de corticosteroides podem permitir o desenvolvimento de doença clínica (Sykes & Malik, 2012), entretanto já é sabido que o fungo Cryptococcus gattii também acomete indivíduos imunocompetentes, inclusive em caninos (Abreu et al, 2017).…”

Therapy of Non-Dermatophytic Mycoses in Animals

“…One of three dogs treated by this method developed a dose-dependent cutaneous reaction. Several cases of gastrointestinal lesions were reported [109,110,111]. One of these cases [110] recovered following treatment based on AmB with 5FC, FCZ or ICZ administered for different periods.…”