Systemic blastomycosis in a Labrador Retriever in upstate New York

Abstract

This report describes a case of systemic blastomycosis in a 1 1/2 year-old male castrated Labrador Retriever from upstate New York that was diagnosed at Cornell University's Hospital for Animals in May 2006. "Bailey" originally presented for evaluation of a draining tract at the level of his left popliteal lymph node, gagging, coughing, lethargy and inappetance. He resides in Indian Lake, NY, a small town in Adirondack Park that is endemic for Blastomyces dermatitidis and has had no history of travel outside of the area. He was diagnosed with systemic blastomycosis with severe pulmonary involvement based on thoracic radiographs and ancillary tests, including impression smear, swab and culture and agarose gel immunodiffusion. Bailey responded well to long-term oral itraconazole therapy. At eleven months post-diagnosis, there was resolution of the draining tract, continued improvement of the fungal pneumonia as viewed on thoracic radiographs and no signs of itraconazole-induced hepatotoxicity.