title: Intra-abdominal cryptococcosis in two dogs.
abstract: Intra-abdominal cryptococcosis was diagnosed in two young dogs. The first, an entire male border collie, was presented with vomiting. An abdominal mass detected during physical examination proved to be cryptococcal mesenteric lymphadenitis on exploratory laparotomy. The second dog, a female neutered giant schnauzer, was presented with neurological signs suggestive of encephalopathy. Intestinal cryptococcal granulomas were detected in an extensive diagnostic investigation which included abdominal ultrasonography. The gastrointestinal tract was considered the most likely portal of entry for cryptococcal organisms in both cases. Both dogs were treated using surgery and multiagent antifungal chemotherapy. The first case succumbed despite therapy, while the second dog was treated successfully as gauged by return to clinical normality and a substantial decline in the cryptococcal antigen titre which continued to fall after cessation of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bellenger
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Canfield
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Love
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents