Clinical Signs, Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Findings, Treatment, and Outcome of Mycotic Discospondylitis in 11 Dogs

Abstract

Background: Discospondylitis refers to inflammation of the intervertebral disc and adjacent vertebral endplates. The literature on mycotic discospondylitis (MD) in dogs is limited.

Objective: To describe clinical and advanced diagnostic imaging findings, therapeutic strategies, and outcomes in dogs with a confirmed diagnosis of MD.

Animals: Eleven client-owned dogs with a diagnosis of MD.

Materials and methods: Medical records from five veterinary neurological referral centers were retrospectively reviewed between 2017 and 2024. The confirmed diagnosis of MD was based on clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and the detection of fungal hyphae in urine, intervertebral disc, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Results: German shepherd (GS) were the most prevalent breed (7/11). Pain was the main clinical sign reported in all dogs, associated with gait abnormalities in 9 dogs. T3-L3 neuroanatomical localization was described in 10 dogs. MRI showed multiple intervertebral disc involvement in 7 dogs. Fungal hyphae were identified in urine sediment in 5 dogs and by CT-guided needle aspiration of the affected disc in 2 dogs. Aspergillus spp. was the most common etiological agent being reported in 7 dogs. Ten dogs were dead at the end of data analysis, with a median survival time of 30 days.

Conclusion and clinical importance: This case series demonstrates the necessity of accurate diagnosis to set an appropriate treatment, despite the poor prognosis after antifungal therapy.

Keywords: antimycotic treatment; aspergillosis; diskospondylitis; fungal; microbiology; systemic mycosis.

FIGURE 1

Study protocol for case selection. n, Number of dogs.