title: Cutaneous toxoplasmosis in two dogs.
abstract: Cutaneous toxoplasmosis has been previously reported in human beings, rarely reported in cats, and reported in 1 dog with systemic toxoplasmosis. The present report describes 2 cases of cutaneous toxoplasmosis in 2 dogs treated with immunosuppressive therapy. One of the dogs developed generalized cutaneous pustules and pruritus, and the other dog only had a single subcutaneous nodule. Microscopically, skin biopsies showed moderate to severe pyogranulomatous and necrotizing dermatitis and panniculitis, with multifocal vasculitis and vascular thrombosis. Single or aggregates of protozoal tachyzoites were mostly intracytoplasmic and occasionally extracellular. The etiology was confirmed in both cases by immunohistochemistry and by polymerase chain reaction assays, which were followed by nucleic acid sequencing. Both patients were treated with clindamycin. The dog with generalized lesions developed pulmonary and neurological signs and was euthanized. The dog with a single nodule recovered completely with no remission of cutaneous lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, MS4467 Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA. arodrigues@cvm.tamu.edu
authors.forename: Aline Rodrigues
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cadieu
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiupel
authors.forename: Ailam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Steve R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bolin
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mansell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012876:Skin Diseases, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D002981:Clindamycin