Cryptococcosis in Dogs

Cryptococcosis in Dogs

By: Dr. Rosanna Marsalla

Section: Veterinary Care In-depth

Veterinary care should include diagnostic tests and subsequent treatment recommendations. Diagnostic tests are needed to identify cryptococcosis and exclude other diseases that may cause similar symptoms. Tests may include:

  • A complete medical history and physical examination including neurologic and ophthalmologic (eye) examinations

  • A complete blood count (CBC or hemogram)

  • A serum biochemical profile

  • Bile acid determinations to evaluate liver function

  • Urinalysis

  • Fecal examination

    The need for additional diagnostic tests will be determined based on the results of the medical history, physical examination and initial laboratory tests:

  • Blood lead determination if lead poisoning is suspected

  • Cerebrospinal fluid analysis

  • Computerized tomography (CT), which is a radiographic imaging test to evaluate the nervous system tissues

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is a sophisticated computer process that produces highly detailed images of cross-sections of the body without radiation exposure

    Your veterinarian may recommend additional diagnostic tests based on the results of initial examinations. These tests may help diagnose other concurrent medical problems or allow your veterinarian to understand the impact of the underlying disease on your pet. Such tests insure optimal medical care and are selected on a case-by-case basis.

  • Latex agglutination test may be performed either on serum or cerebrospinal fluid to detect the capsule antigen of Cryptococcus neoformans. False negative results may occur due to localized infection and false positive results may occur due to contamination of the specimen with talc from latex gloves used during cerebrospinal fluid collection. The latex agglutination test is correlated with disease severity. Animals with disseminated skin or lymph node involvement have higher titers than those that do not. Generally, the titer decreases by two- to four-fold per month during successful therapy.

  • Antibodies against Cryptococcus neoformans also can be measured. Most affected animals (over 80 percent) have high antibody titers at the time of diagnosis. Antibody titers in these patients remain high or decrease slowly after treatment.

  • Microscopic examination of exudates from the nasal cavity or skin nodules often allows identification of the organism.

  • Microscopic examination of a biopsy specimen by a veterinary pathologist also allows identification of the organism and the characteristic "pyogranulomatous" inflammation. Organisms usually are present in large numbers.

  • The organism can be isolated and identified in culture using exudate or tissue samples. The cultures are not hazardous because the cultured organisms do not aerosolize.

     
    Printable Version
     
    Have a Pet Question?
    Send Your Pet Question to Dr. Jon
    and His Staff of Veterinarians Ask Dr. Jon
    Dr. Jon's Newsletter
    Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...
     
     

    Related Articles

    • 1 Blastomycosis in Dogs

      Blastomycosis is a serious fungal disease that most often affects the lungs. Hunting dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors and live in endemic areas are at risk for inhaling this organism and developing...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2 Canine Distemper

      Canine distemper is an acute (sudden onset) contagious and often fatal disease with respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system manifestations.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3 Toxoplasmosis in Dogs

      Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the protozoal organism Toxoplasma gondii. It is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be transferred to humans.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 4 Granulomatous Meningoencephalomyelitis (GME)

      Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) is a sporadic, inflammatory disease of the central nervous system of dogs and rarely cats. It is most common in middle age dogs, although it can occur from...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 5 Hepatic Encephalopathy in Dogs

      Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a clinical syndrome characterized by abnormal mental status, an altered state of consciousness, and impaired neurologic function that occurs in animals with advanced liver...

      Read MoreRead More
  • Related Articles
    • 1Blastomycosis in Dogs

      Blastomycosis is a serious fungal disease that most often affects the lungs. Hunting dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors and live in endemic areas are at risk for inhaling this organism and developing...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2Canine Distemper

      Canine distemper is an acute (sudden onset) contagious and often fatal disease with respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system manifestations.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3Toxoplasmosis in Dogs

      Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the protozoal organism Toxoplasma gondii. It is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be transferred to humans.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 4Granulomatous Meningoencephalomyelitis (GME)

      Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) is a sporadic, inflammatory disease of the central nervous system of dogs and rarely cats. It is most common in middle age dogs, although it can occur from...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 5Hepatic Encephalopathy in Dogs

      Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a clinical syndrome characterized by abnormal mental status, an altered state of consciousness, and impaired neurologic function that occurs in animals with advanced liver...

      Read MoreRead More
     

    Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

    Related Articles
    • 1Blastomycosis in Dogs

      Blastomycosis is a serious fungal disease that most often affects the lungs. Hunting dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors and live in endemic areas are at risk for inhaling this organism and developing...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2Canine Distemper

      Canine distemper is an acute (sudden onset) contagious and often fatal disease with respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system manifestations.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3Toxoplasmosis in Dogs

      Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the protozoal organism Toxoplasma gondii. It is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be transferred to humans.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 4Granulomatous Meningoencephalomyelitis (GME)

      Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) is a sporadic, inflammatory disease of the central nervous system of dogs and rarely cats. It is most common in middle age dogs, although it can occur from...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 5Hepatic Encephalopathy in Dogs

      Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a clinical syndrome characterized by abnormal mental status, an altered state of consciousness, and impaired neurologic function that occurs in animals with advanced liver...

      Read MoreRead More