title: Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii-Induced Arthritis with Encephalitic Dissemination in a Dog and Review of Published Literature.
abstract: This article describes the clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical findings associated with Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii in a 4-year-old female Boxer dog from Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil. Clinically, there was a swelling at the right metatarsal region and the hock joint with enlargement of regional lymph nodes. Radiographical evaluation revealed lysis of the tarsal bone; cytology demonstrated cryptococcal intralesional organisms at the swollen joint. Despite empirical antifungals therapeutic, the animal developed neurological cryptococcosis and died spontaneously. Significant pathological alterations included arthritis, lymphadenitis, and encephalitic cryptococcomas associated with numerous intralesional narrow-necked budding encapsulated yeasts. Immunohistochemistry utilising monoclonal antibodies that label C. neoformans sp. complex capsule, characterised the yeasts as C. neoformans var. grubii. Collectively, the pathological and immunohistochemical findings of this dog indicate that the intralesional organisms observed within the articular surface of the hock joint, lymph nodes, and the brain were C. neoformans var. grubii, confirming the participation of this fungal pathogen in the development of cryptococcal arthritis. In this case, the most likely pathogenesis was percutaneous inoculation with resultant abscess-like lesion, which resulted in the draining sinus, swelling of the right hind limb with progression to the articular disease. Thereafter, the fungal pathogen probably compromised the adjacent lymph nodes with subsequent haematogenous distribution to the brain, terminating with cryptococcal arthritis, lymphadenitis, and encephalitis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Pathology, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445 Km 380, Campus Universitário, PO Box 10.011, Londrina, Paraná, 86057-970, Brazil. selwyn.headley@uel.br.
authors.forename: Selwyn Arlington
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1614-0185
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Headley
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco Claudio D
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Mycology, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiza M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandra Aparecida
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Mycology, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucienne Garcia
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Pretto-Giordano
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Paulo Elsen
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Saut
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krockenberger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001938:Brazil; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008853:Microscopy
keywords: Canine; Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii; Hock joint; Immunohistochemistry; Pathogenesis