A 2 yr old spayed female German shepherd presented with a chief complaint of acute onset paraparesis and weight loss. At presentation, the dog was pyrexic, nonambulatory, and had generalized muscle wasting. Neurolocalization was consistent with a thoracolumbar spinal cord lesion. An abdominal ultrasound was performed and revealed a focal dilation (4 cm) of the terminal aorta with evidence of blood stasis consistent with an aortic aneurysm. The dog was euthanized shortly after admission to the hospital and a post mortem examination was performed. Fungal organisms were identified in the aortic aneurysm as well as from the thoracic vertebrae, mesenteric lymph nodes, axillary lymph nodes, spleen, kidneys, liver, lungs, and heart. Although the morphology was consistent with Candida spp., immunohistochemistry and PCR could not definitively identify the causative organism. Mycotic aortic aneurysms are a rare finding in humans and have not been previously reported in the dog. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first known report of an aortic aneurysm associated with systemic fungal infection in a dog.
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January/February 2011
Case Reports|
January 01 2011
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Associated with Systemic Fungal Infection in a German Shepherd Dog
Ryan T. Gershenson, DVM;
Angell Animal Medical Center Department of Emergency and Critical Care, Boston, MA (R.G.); Cumming School of Veterinary Medicine, Section of Pathology (R.M.) and Department of Radiology/Diagnostic Imaging (J.S.), Tufts University, North Grafton, MA; and College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Emergency and Critical Care, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (C.R.).
Correspondence: [email protected] (R.G.)
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Raffaele Melidone, Dr.med.vet.;
Raffaele Melidone, Dr.med.vet.
Angell Animal Medical Center Department of Emergency and Critical Care, Boston, MA (R.G.); Cumming School of Veterinary Medicine, Section of Pathology (R.M.) and Department of Radiology/Diagnostic Imaging (J.S.), Tufts University, North Grafton, MA; and College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Emergency and Critical Care, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (C.R.).
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James Sutherland-Smith, BVSc, Diplomate ACVR;
James Sutherland-Smith, BVSc, Diplomate ACVR
Angell Animal Medical Center Department of Emergency and Critical Care, Boston, MA (R.G.); Cumming School of Veterinary Medicine, Section of Pathology (R.M.) and Department of Radiology/Diagnostic Imaging (J.S.), Tufts University, North Grafton, MA; and College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Emergency and Critical Care, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (C.R.).
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Catherine L. Rogers, DVM, Diplomate ACVECC
Catherine L. Rogers, DVM, Diplomate ACVECC
Angell Animal Medical Center Department of Emergency and Critical Care, Boston, MA (R.G.); Cumming School of Veterinary Medicine, Section of Pathology (R.M.) and Department of Radiology/Diagnostic Imaging (J.S.), Tufts University, North Grafton, MA; and College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Emergency and Critical Care, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (C.R.).
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J Am Anim Hosp Assoc (2011) 47 (1): 45–49.
Citation
Ryan T. Gershenson, Raffaele Melidone, James Sutherland-Smith, Catherine L. Rogers; Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Associated with Systemic Fungal Infection in a German Shepherd Dog. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1 January 2011; 47 (1): 45–49. doi: https://doi.org/10.5326/JAAHA-MS-5630
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