Diffuse cutaneous candidiasis in a dog. Diagnosis by PCR-REA.
The authors describe a clinical case of cutaneous candidiasis in a dog with dermatological lesions, characterized by persistent alopecia, crusts, ulcers and scales. Predisposing factors such as the use of corticosteroids, the concomitan presence of an autoimmune disease (pemphigus foliaceus) and an infection of ehrlichiosis caused by Ehrlichia canis were observed. Histopathological findings included signs of orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, moderate follicular keratosis and light epidermic acanthosis. The reactive process included an infiltrative superficial dermatitis and a mural folliculitis with prevalent participation of macrophages and lymphocytes. The application of PCR-Restriction Enzyme Analysis (REA) method on cutaneous specimens in veterinary medicine is an extremely interesting diagnostic tool. Its use, together with other techniques, such as mycologic, cytologic and histological examinations, allowed us to identify Candida albicans as aetiological agent in this particular case.
Moretti
Annabella
A
Dipartimento di Scienze Biopatologiche Veterinarie, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Perugia, Italy. moretti@unipg.it
Posteraro
Brunella
B
Boncio
Luisa
L
Mechelli
Luca
L
De Gasperis
Emanuele
E
Agnetti
Francesco
F
Raspa
Marcello
M
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002179:Candidiasis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary*; D015183:Restriction Mapping / Q000662:veterinary*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D004271:DNA, Fungal