Blastomycosis in a Labrador Retriever from Lake Placid

Abstract

A seven year old female spayed Labrador Retriever presented to Cornell with a fourteen day history of cyclic pyrexia, lethargy, inappetance, gagging or coughing, and vague stiffness in the hind end. On presentation, the dog was panting and coughing spontaneously, as well as on tracheal palpation. Clinical findings included mildly increased bronchovesicular sounds bilaterally, mild peripheral lymphadenopathy, retinal hemorrhage, stress leukogram, hyperproteinemia, hyperglobulinemia, increased alkaline phosphatase, amylase, aspartate aminotransferase and creatnine kinase. Thoracic radiographs revealed a moderate diffuse airway lung pattern. Lymph node aspirates, bone marrow aspirates, endotracheal wash, infectious disease titers, fungal serology panels, and ANA titers were non-diagnostic. Blastomyces dermatitides was identified on histopathologic sections of a draining tract lesion on the dog's left thorax. Treatment with itraconzole at a dose of five mg/kg/day and an anti-inflammatory dose of prednisone was initiated. The purpose of this case presentation is to characterize the common clinical presentations, diagnostic testing, and treatment of canine blastomycosis.