Mucormicose e candidíase em cães.

Abstract

Lately, fungal diseases have been responsible for high mortality in the canine species. The zygomycosis, and candidiasis are inserted between the main mycoses which eventually may cause systemic and fatal infections in immunosuppressed individuals. This Dissertation, was elaborated in two chapters, composed by two original articles. The first one submitted to the Journal of Comparative Pathology, describe two cases of fungal infection of the order Mucorales with systemic and hepatogastric involvement in dogs. The disease occurred in Poodle dogs, males aged one and ten years. The clinical signs included respiratory, neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms that progressed to death in three and nineteen days. Macroscopically, in case 1, there were irregular yellowish or reddish raised areas that deepened the cut in the lungs, heart and brain. In case 2, the alterations consisted of rupture of the stomach with borders and gastric mucosa covered by a thick and whitish, but also friable material, in addition to multiple extensive nodular areas and deep white-yellowish cavitations on the capsular surface of the liver. Histologically, piogranulomas were observed in all affected organs, associated with fungal hyphae, vasculitis and thrombosis. The diagnosis of mucormycosis was based on the microscopic lesions associated with the morphotinctorial features of the hyphae. The hyphae were strongly immunomarked by the anti-Rhizopus arrhizus monoclonal antibody. The second article, was submitted to the journal Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, describes the epidemiological, clinical and pathological aspects of three cases of systemic candidiasis associated with distemper in dogs. The affected dogs were between four months and five years. Of these, two were without defined breed dogs and one Poodle. The clinical manifestations were predominantly neurological, followed by nonspecific changes with evolution from five to thirty days. At necropsy there were yellowishwhite areas surrounded by reddish edges in the kidneys, heart, liver, submandibular lymph node and lung. In addition, in case 2, there were lumpy materials whitish adhered to the epicardial surface, aortic artery, pericardial sac and spleen. In addition to infarction in the right testicle, hydroureter, pyelonephritis and hydronephrosis. In case 1, there was an increase in the right carpal-metacarpal joint, that when cutting reddish and cloudy content flowed. In the encephalon, the lesions were characterized by blackened and/or reddish and friable areas. Microscopically, the lesions consisted of areas of necrosis and hemorrhage, surrounded by neutrophils associated with vasculitis, congestion, thrombosis, infarction, and fungi with various morphological patterns including yeasts, pseudo-hyphae and hyphae. The three dogs were immunosuppressed due to the concomitant infection with the distemper virus. Cases 2 and 3 were diagnosed still with generalized dermatophytosis and lymphoma, respectively. The diagnosis of systemic candidiasis was made through the morphotinctorial characteristics of the agent and immunostaining by the polyclonal anti-Candida albicans antibody. With the accomplishment of these works it was possible to verify that mucormycosis and candidiasis are diseases sporadically diagnosed in the routine of the Laboratório de Patologia Animal of the Hospital Veterinário Universitário Prof. Dr. Ivon Macêdo Tabosa of the UFCG. Although uncommon, these mycoses are important causes of death in dogs.