title: Cervical spinal cord compression caused by cryptococcosis in a dog: successful treatment with surgery and fluconazole.
abstract: A six-year-old, male Doberman pinscher was presented for acute onset of upper motor neuron tetraparesis. An extradural compressive lesion compatible with intervertebral disk rupture at the sixth to seventh cervical (C6-C7) disk space was evident on myelography. A large, gelatinous mass of pure cryptococcal organisms causing spinal cord compression was identified upon exploratory surgery. Removal of the mass caused relief of clinical signs. No evidence of involvement of other organ systems was found; however, serum and cerebrospinal fluid titers were positive for cryptococcal infection. The dog was treated with fluconazole (5.5 mg/kg body weight, per os sid) until serum titers for cryptococcal infection were negative at seven months postsurgery. To the authors' knowledge, this is the only report of a dog with cryptococcosis treated successfully using fluconazole as a sole agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803, USA.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kerwin
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: VanSteenhouse
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Partington
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taboada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D013522:Surgery, Veterinary / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015725:Fluconazole