Fungal Diseases

Question 1

What is the organism that causes blastomycosis?

Answer 1

Blastomyces dermatitidis

Question 2

With blastomyces, what are the 2 routes of infection?

Answer 2

1. Inhalation

2. Direction inoculation

Question 3

How long is the incubation period of blastomycosis?

Answer 3

1-3 months

Question 4

What is the “poster dog” for blastomycosis?

Answer 4

1. Young (2-4 yrs.)

2. Large, hunting breed

Question 5

What are the clinical signs associated with blastomycosis?

Answer 5

1. Fever, anorexia, weight loss
2. Respiratory signs: cough, tachypnea, harsh lung sounds
3. Skin signs: draining lesions
4. Ocular signs: uveitis
5. Lameness: osteomyelitis

Question 6

What abnormalities would you see on blood work with blastomycosis?

Answer 6

1. Low albumin
2. High globulins
3. Hypercalcemia

Question 7

What type of diagnostics would you want to run with blastomycosis?

Answer 7

1. Cytology: FNA, CSF, impression smear, lung wash
2. Radiographs
3. Galactomannan
4. Culture

Question 8

What would you see on radiographs with blastomycosis?

Answer 8

1. Osteolysis with periosteal reactions

2. Miliary to nodular lung pattern

Question 9

What is the drug of choice used in treating blasto?

Answer 9

Itraconazole

Question 10

What is the drug of choice in treating blasto with CNS or ocular involvement?

Answer 10

Fluconazole

Question 11

What are itraconazole and fluconazole?

Answer 11

Triazoles

Question 12

What would you give in addition to the itraconazole in treating blasto?

Answer 12

Corticosteroids

Question 13

How long would you administer anti-fungal treatment in treating blasto?

Answer 13

3 - 6 months

Question 14

What is the organism responsible for histoplasmosis?

Answer 14

Histoplasma capsulatum

Question 15

Histoplasma is present in the feces of which species?

Answer 15

Birds and bats

Question 16

How is histo acquired?

Answer 16

Inhaled

Question 17

Where is the body does histo replicate?

Answer 17

Alveolar macrophages

Question 18

What are the clinical signs of histo in cats?

Answer 18

1. Respiratory (40%)
2. Ocular (25%)
3. Skin involvement
4. Lymphadenopathy

Question 19

What are the clinical signs of histo in the dog?

Answer 19

1. Primarily GI
2. Respiratory
3. Ocular
4. Skin
5. CNS

Question 20

What would you see on blood work with histo?

Answer 20

1. Low albumin
2. High globulins
3. Increased liver enzymes (ALP, ALT, bilirubin)
4. Anemia

Question 21

What type of diagnostics could you perform to diagnose histoplasmosis?

Answer 21

1. Cytology: FNS, CSF, impression smear, lung wash
2. Galactomannan
3. Imaging: Radiographs

Question 22

What would you see on radiographs with histoplasmosis?

Answer 22

1. Hepato/splenomegaly
2. Osteolysis with periosteal reaction
3. Tracheobronchial lymphadenopathy
4. Variable lung patterns

Question 23

How would you treat histoplasmosis?

Answer 23

Itraconazole +/- steroids

Question 24

How would you treat a disseminated case of histoplasmosis?

Answer 24

Amphotericin B

Question 25

How long would you administer anti-fungal treatment to treat histoplasmosis?

Answer 25

6 - 12 months