Signalment:  

Canine, 2-year-old, female, Husky-cross, Canis lupus familiarisA biopsy from the ear was submitted.


Histopathologic Description:

A section of haired skin from the ear was submitted in which there is diffuse (and in other regions not included, multinodular foci of dense yeast-like organisms that extended from the superficial dermis to the deep dermis underlying a multifocally ulcerated epidermis with multifocal acanthosis and intraepidermal separation (just above the basal layer). There was associated neutrophilic inflammation and scattered foamy macrophages. Organisms were round to oval (3-20 microns) and refractile surrounded by a clear capsule (up to 40 microns). Some structures exhibit narrowbased budding (Fig. 4-1).


Morphologic Diagnosis:  

Dermatitis, multifocal ulcerative with intradermal yeast-like fungi (Cryptococcus neoformans); cutaneous cryptococcosis


Condition:  

Cryptococcus neoformans


Contributor Comment:  

Cutaneous cryptococcosis is apparently rare in dogs and more common in cats.(2) The organism is a ubiquitous saprophyte that is common in nitrogen-rich, alkaline soil and particularly associated with pigeon excrement. The disease is seen most frequently in humid climates and is unusual in climates such as Wyoming. Inhalation of airborne organisms is frequently followed by local upper respiratory tract infection and cutaneous infection is thought to be local extension. Concurrent immunosuppressive conditions such as diabetes and neoplasia may predispose to infection but this association is still inconclusive.(3) Rare reports of cryptococcosis in dogs include infection of the central nervous system and rare cutaneous infection results from disseminated systemic disease.


JPC Diagnosis:  

Dermatitis and panniculitis, pyogranulomatous, diffuse, severe with numerous yeast, etiology consistent with Cryptococcus neoformans


Conference Comment:  

Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans ssp. neoformans) is the most common systemic fungal infection in cats. The respiratory system is primarily infected; with hematogenous spread to other organs, most commonly the central nervous systems, skin and eyes. Cryptococcal mastitis in cows is an ascending, rather than hematogenous, infection. Cryptococcus sp. is the only pathogenic fungus with a capsule. The capsule causes the gross lesions to appear gelatinous and the histological lesions to have a soap bubble appearance.(1) Mucicarmine stains the capsule.

The major virulence factors of Cryptococcus are the capsule and the production of antioxidants such as melanin. The capsule impairs phagocytosis, activates complement, and possibly suppresses T lymphocytes. The rare acapsular strains of Cryptococcus sp. incite abundant granulomatous inflammation and are readily phagocytized, making them much less pathogenic than the capsular strains. The acapsular strains of Cryptococcus neoformans resemble Blastomyces dermatitidis but can be distinguished by the presence of narrow-based budding in the former and broad-based budding in Blastomyces dermatitidis. Some strains are able to produce antioxidants such as melanin and phenoloxidase (laccase), which protect the organism from oxidative damage by leukocytes.(1)

Cryptococcus gattii (previously C. neoformans ssp. gattii) is primarily found in tropical and subtropical climates. It is associated with eucalyptus trees and infections in koalas. However, it has recently been reported in the temperate Pacific Northwest, primarily in British Columbia, where it has infected humans, dogs, cats, porpoises and ferrets. Unlike Cryptococcus neoformans, it often infects immunocompetent hosts.(4)


References:

1. Caswell JL, Williams KJ: Respiratory system. In: Pathology of Domestic Animals, ed. Maxie MG, 5th ed., vol. 2, pp. 642-644. Elsevier, Edinburgh, UK, 2007
2. Gross TL, Ihrke PJ, Walder EJ, Affolter VK: Skin Diseases of the Dog and Cat, pp. 295-297. Blackwell Science Ltd, Oxford, UK, 2005.
3. Jacobs GJ, Medleau L, Calvert C, Brown J: Cryptococcal infection in cats: factors influencing treatment outcome, and results of sequential serum antigen titers in 35 cats. J Vet Intern Med 11:1-4, 1997
4. Stephen C, Lester S, Black W, Fyfe M, Raverty S: Multispecies outbreak of cryptococcosis on southern Vancouver Island, British Coulmbia. Can Vet J 43:792-294, 2002


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4-1. Dog, skin. 



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