Cryptococcosis of the Nervous System in Dogs, Part 1: Epidemiologic, Clinical, and Neuropathologic Features

摘要

Cryptococcosis is a rare infection that is caused by Crypto-coccus neoformans, a yeastlike, sapro-phytic fungus with a polysaccharide capsule. Data from 26 new dogs with cryptococcosis, from the literature, and from the Veterinary Medical Data Base ofPurdue University (VMDB) were analyzed to elucidate the presentation of cryptococcosis in dogs. The medical records were reviewed of all dogs with a diagnosis of cryptococcus in the VMDB and of 26 other previously unreported dogs with cryptococcosis. Published case studies of canine cryptococcosiswere also analyzed. The significance of breed and gender factors was calculated with risk-ratio analysis. The presentation and the incidence of localized vs., disseminated infections were studied.