Pneumocystis Colonization in Dogs Is as in Humans

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Richard Malik¹  Matteo Petini²  Tommaso Furlanello²  Patrizia Danesi³  Christian Falcaro³  Michela Bertola³  Elisa Mazzotta³  Mark Krockenberger⁴ 

[1] Centre for Veterinary Education, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;Clinica e Laboratorio Veterinario San Marco, Veggiano, 35030 Padua, Italy;Parasitology, Mycology and Medical Enthomology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy;Veterinary Pathology Diagnostic Services, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;

关键词: Pneumocystis canis;    dog;    canine;    pneumocystosis;    Cavalier King Charles spaniel;    pneumonia;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph19063192

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Pneumocystis is an atypical fungus that resides in the pulmonary parenchyma of many mammals, including humans and dogs. Immunocompetent human hosts are usually asymptomatically colonised or show subtle clinical signs, but some immunocompromised people can develop florid life-threatening Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). Since much less is known concerning Pneumocystis in dogs, we posit the question: can Pneumocystis colonization be present in dogs with inflammatory airway or lung disease caused by other pathogens or disease processes? In this study, Pneumocystis DNA was detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of 22/255 dogs (9%) with respiratory distress and/or chronic cough. Although young dogs (<1 year-of-age) and pedigree breeds were more often Pneumocystis-qPCR positive than older dogs and crossbreds, adult dogs with other infectious conditions and/or a history of therapy-resistant pulmonary disease could also be qPCR-positive, including two patients with suppression of the immune system. Absence of pathognomonic clinical or radiographic signs render it impossible to convincingly discriminate between overt PCP versus other lung/airway disease processes colonised by P. canis. It is possible that colonisation with P. canis might play a certain role as a co-pathogen in some canine patients with lower respiratory disease.

【 授权许可】

Unknown