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Case Reports
. 2014 Oct;55(10):950-4.

Protothecosis in a dog

Andrew R Vince  1 , Chantale Pinard  1 , Adam T Ogilvie  1 , Emmeline O Tan  1 , Anthony C G Abrams-Ogg  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Protothecosis in a dog

Andrew R Vince et al. Can Vet J. 2014 Oct.

Erratum in

  • Erratum.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] Can Vet J. 2021 Jun;62(6):590. Can Vet J. 2021. PMID: 34121756 Free PMC article.

Abstract
in English, French

A case of a disseminated algal infection is reported in a young rough-coated collie dog with progressive neurologic deficits, blindness, and hemorrhagic diarrhea. Prototheca zopfii organisms were cultured from feces, urine, and blood. At necropsy, granulomas containing typical organisms were identified within the proximal colon, heart, kidneys, and eyes.

Protothécose chez un chien. Un cas d’infection algoïde est signalé chez un jeune chien Collie à poil court avec des troubles neurologiques progressifs, de la cécité et de la diarrhée hémorragique. Des organismes de type Prototheca zopfii ont été cultivés à partir des fèces, de l’urine et du sang. À la nécropsie, des granulomes contenant des organismes typiques ont été identifiés dans le côlon proximal, le cœur, les reins et les yeux.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Rectal scraping cytology, modified Wright’s stain, 600× magnification. Prototheca organisms (arrows) are round to oval, measuring 2 to 30 μm and have a granular, basophilic cytoplasm with clear cell wall. Note also the large numbers of bacteria and degenerate neutrophils in the background.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Heart, cut section of apex. At all levels of the myocardium there are numerous poorly defined pale tan-white nodules.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Colon and rectum, mucosal surface. There is segmental dark discoloration of the colonic wall, throughout which are multiple poorly defined white-tan nodules. Some green discoloration is present as a result of both local hemorrhage and autolysis.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Posterior chamber of the eye, H&E stain, 600× magnification. Within the posterior uvea and anterior chamber are numerous 8 to 12 μm diameter round-oval algal sporangia, with thick hyaline cell walls and 1, 2 or 4 endospores; 1 of these sporangia has a typical “Maltese cross” appearance for Prototheca spp. These sporangia are surrounded by large numbers of neutrophils.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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