title: Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Prototheca zopfii in a dog with enteric signs.
abstract: This is a case report of enteric protothecosis caused by Prototheca zopfii in an eight-year-old male mixed breed dog with a history of chronic bloody diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss. Algae were isolated from rectal scrapings in defibrinated sheep blood agar and dextrose Sabouraud agar. Cytological evaluation showed the presence of globular and cylindrical organisms with a defined capsule and variable number of endospores, characteristic of the genus Prototheca, in the rectum of the animal. Scanning electron microscopy of P. zopfii strains at different development stages confirmed the diagnosis of algal infection. Molecular identification using a conserved 18S rDNA gene sequence determined that the strain belonged to genotype 2. This report describes success on treatment of canine protothecosis, diagnosed based on clinical, cytological, microbiological, scanning electron microscopy and genotypical findings.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases of Domestic Animals, Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, UNESP, 18618-000 Botucatu, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. mgribeiro@fmvz.unesp.br
authors.forename: Márcio Garcia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Marconi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodrigues de Farias
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Roesler
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Sabrina Mari
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rodigheri
authors.forename: Marco Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ostrowsky
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Salerno
authors.forename: Amanda Keller
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Siqueira
authors.forename: Marta Catarina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D004751:Enteritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D007239:Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009761:Nystatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011525:Prototheca / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009761:Nystatin