A case of systemic mycosis in a Hovawart dog due to Candida albicans

Abstract

Candida albicans is reported as the etiological agent of multi-systemic infections in dogs. A two-year-old female Hovawart dog was presented with marked alteration in its health condition characterised by weakness, fever, anorexia, abdominal pain, cachexy and generalized lymphadenopathy. A radiograph of the abdominal cavity showed several non-specific nodular lesions in the mesentery, ranging in size up to 10 cm in diameter. At necropsy, extensive enlargement of lymph nodes and the presence of numerous whitish to grey nodules of different sizes in several organs were evident. Histopathological examination revealed pyogranulomatous inflammation characterized by large areas of necrosis surrounded by neutrophilic granulocytes, macrophages, multinucleated giant cells, and a variable admixture of lymphocytes and fungi-like organismsin in all affected organs. Numerous branching hyphae, subsequently identified by mycological cultivation as Candida albicans, were observed. A periodic acid Schiff (PAS) reaction to prove the presence of fungi in tissues was positive. Examination of tissue samples of affected organs using polymerase chain reaction (quantitative Real-Time PCR) and cultivation was negative for the presence of all members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, M. avium subsp. avium and M. avium subsp. hominissuis.