title: Temporary remission of disseminated paecilomycosis in a German shepherd dog treated with ketoconazole.
abstract: Disseminated mycosis caused by Paecilomyces varioti in a female German shepherd dog presented with chronic forelimb lameness is described. Radiographs of the swollen carpal joint revealed geographic lysis of the radial epiphysis. Diagnosis was based on cytological demonstration of fungal hyphae and chlamydiospores, as well as fungal culture of fluid obtained by arthrocentesis. Temporary remission was characterised by markedly improved clinical signs and laboratory parameters, following treatment with ketoconazole. The dog was euthanased 9 months after the initial diagnosis, following the diagnosis of multifocal discospondylitis. This appears to be the longest described period of temporary remission obtained with treatment in dogs with paecilomycosis. Clinical, clinicopathological and necropsy findings of this disease in another German shepherd dog are briefly described.
authors.affiliation: Botha van der Lugt Veterinary Pathologists, Pretoria, South Africa. boothmalcolm@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van der Lugt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Heerden
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Picard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D010143:Paecilomyces / Q000254:growth & development*; D011859:Radiography; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D007654:Ketoconazole