Protozoal Diseases of Dogs Flashcards
Describe the pathogenesis of Giardia duodenalis
- cysts are ingested
- excyst with help of pancreatic enzymes
- two trophozoites separate, mature, and attach to brush border of villous epithelium in small intestine
How is giardia diagnosed?
- fecal microscopy
- fecal concentration techniques
- fecal ELISA test (antigens)
- PCR
How is giardia treated?
- fenbendazole
- metronidazole
Describe the pathogenesis of cryptosporidium
- spread through fecal-oral route
- oocytes excyst, release sporozoites, become trophozoites which proliferate on microvillous surface of enterocyte
What are the clinical signs of cryptosporidium?
- small bowel diarrhea and weight loss
- chronic cases: tenesmus, hematochezia, abdominal discomfort
How is cryptosporidium diagnosed?
- fecal exam
- concentration techniques
- cytological and histological staining
- immunostaining
- fecal antigen detection by ELISA
- PCR
- intestinal biopsies
What are the clinical signs of coccidiosis?
- diarrhea
- anorexia, vomiting, mental depression
How is coccidiosis diagnosed?
fecal floatation
How is coccidiosis treated?
- coccidiostatic drugs
- sulfonamides
- amprollum
- toltrazuril
What are the clinical signs of neospora caninum infection?
- neurological deficits and muscular abnormalities
- puppies: muscle atrophy, ascending paralysis, scar formation in muscles, cervical weakness, megaesophagus, death
- adults: multifocal CNS involvement, polymyositis, myocarditis, dermatitis, pneumonia
How is neospora caninum diagnosed?
- biochem: CK and AST increased
- serology: antibody testing, CSF
- organism detection
- PCR on feces
How is neospora caninum treated?
- trimethoprim sulfonamides
- clindamycin
How is leishmania transmitted?
- sand fly
- in utero
Describe the pathogenesis of leishmania
- promastigotes transferred from sand fly saliva into skin
- phagocytosed by macrophages, and undergo multiplication, cell lysed and they are released
- travel through hemolymph regions
What are the clinical signs of leishmania?
- flaking and crusting skin around eyes
- scabbing regions around ear
- weakness, lethargy, weight loss
How is leishmania diagnosed?
- tissue aspirate (lymph node, bone marrow, or skin)
- PCR
- serology (IgG)
How is hepatozoon americanum transmitted?
- dog predation on wild rodents/rabbits harboring tissue cyst
- dog ingesting tick (Amblyomma)
What are the clinical signs of hepatozoon americanum infection?
- waxing and waning signs
- pyrexia, cachexia, pain, lymphadenopathy, diarrhea, paraparesis, lameness
How is hepatozoon americanum diagnosed?
- CBC: leukocytosis
- chem: reduced albumin, increased P and ALP
- periosteal reaction near muscle attachment
- PCR
What are the clinical signs of babesia vogeli?
- hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia
- usually subclinical
What are the clinical signs of babesia gibsoni?
- hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, vasculitis, fever
How is babesia gibsoni transmitted?
dog fights
How is babesia diagnosed?
- blood smear
- PCR
