Mixed infection caused by Lecythophora canina sp. nov. and Plectosphaerella cucumerina in a German shepherd dog

• Published in: Medical mycology (Oxford) Vol. 51; no. 5; p. 455
• Main Authors: Troy, Gregory C, Panciera, David L, Pickett, J Phillip, Sutton, Deanna A, Gene, Josepa, Cano, José F, Guarro, Josep, Thompson, Elizabeth H, Wickes, Brian L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.07.2013
• Subjects: Animals; Ascomycota - classification; Ascomycota - genetics; Ascomycota - isolation & purification; Biopsy, Fine-Needle; Bone and Bones - diagnostic imaging; Coinfection - microbiology; Coinfection - veterinary; DNA, Fungal - chemistry; DNA, Fungal - genetics; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - chemistry; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - genetics; Dog Diseases - microbiology; Dogs; Microscopy; Molecular Sequence Data; Mycoses - microbiology; Mycoses - veterinary; Opportunistic Infections - microbiology; Opportunistic Infections - veterinary; Osteomyelitis - microbiology; Osteomyelitis - veterinary; Radiography; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Urine - microbiology
• ISSN: 1460-2709
• DOI: 10.3109/13693786.2012.754998

We describe an opportunistic, disseminated infection in a German shepherd dog associated with two fungal organisms not previously reported to cause disease. Lecythophora canina, a new species here described, was isolated from an osteolytic bone lesion. A fine needle aspirate of the lesion demonstrated septate hyphae. Plectospharella cucumerina (anamorph Plectosporium tabacinum) was isolated from a urine sample. Clinical manifestations were blindness, altered mentation, and osteomyelitis. Treatment with itraconazole and terbinafine for greater than one year resulted in stable clinical disease.