Intracranial Fusariosis: A Novel Cause of Fungal Meningoencephalitis in a Dog

• Published in: Veterinary pathology 2004-09, Vol.41 (5), p.510-514
• Main Authors: Evans, J., Levesque, D., de Lahunta, A., Jensen, H. E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Dog Diseases - microbiology; Dog Diseases - pathology; Dogs; Fatal Outcome; Female; Fusarium; Immunohistochemistry - veterinary; Meningoencephalitis - microbiology; Meningoencephalitis - pathology; Meningoencephalitis - veterinary; Mycoses - pathology; Mycoses - veterinary; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - veterinary
• ISSN: 0300-9858; 1544-2217
• DOI: 10.1354/vp.41-5-510

The Fusarium species are a group of saprophytic fungal organisms that are occasionally the cause of opportunistic infections in humans and animals. Central nervous system disease associated with a Fusarium species is most commonly described in horse, resulting in equine leukoencephalomalacia. This report describes a 2-year-old, spayed, female German Shepherd Dog with meningoencephalitis secondary to infection with Fusarium spp. Meningoencephalitis in dogs secondary to a species of Fusarium has not been previously reported. The diagnosis was made based on the histopathologic examination of brain tissues postmortem and special immunohistochemical stains specific for Fusarium solani. The clinical signs in this dog were indicative of multifocal brain disease and included seizures and a paradoxical vestibular syndrome. The clinical findings, diagnostic and histopathologic test results, and the comparative characterizations of other disseminated fungal diseases, especially aspergillosis, are described.