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Title: CANINE CUTANEOUS NEOSPOROSIS: CLINICAL IMPROVEMENT WITH CLINDAMYCIN

Author
item Dubey, Jitender
item METZGER JR FRED - METZGER ANML HOSP, PA
item HATTEL ARTHUR L - PA STATE UNIV
item LINDSAY DAVID S - AUBURN UNIV
item FRITZ DAVID L - ARMY MED RES INST INF DIS

Submitted to: Veterinary Dermatology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/6/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Neospora caninum is a recently recognized parasite of livestock and companion animals. It causes abortion in livestock and paralysis in dogs. Its sources of infection and life cycle are unknown. There is no effective therapy for neosporosis in animals. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and the Pennsylvania State University report successful treatment of ulcers in the skin of a dog due to neosporosis medicated in the clindamycin. The results will be of use to veterinarians in practice and in academia.

Technical Abstract: Pyogranulomatous dermatitis caused by the protozoan parasite Neospora caninum was diagnosed in a 12-year-old Golden Retriever dog. Multiple draining nodules were located in the skin of the head and thorax. Numerous tachyzoites of N. caninum were found in histologic section of the biopsy tissue from the cutaneous nodules and the diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining and by electron microscopic examination. The dog had a 1:3,200 serum antibody titer to N. caninum in the indirect fluorescent antibody test. The cutaneous lesions resolved after a 45 day treatment with clindamycin hydrochloride. The dog eventually died because of lymphosarcoma and also had a latent infection with Toxoplasma gondii. Neospora caninum could not be demonstrated by bioassays in cell culture or mice inoculated with canine tissue obtained at necropsy. Only degenerating N. caninum tachyzoites were seen in skin tissue taken at necropsy. These observations indicate that neosporosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pyogranulomatous dermatitis in dogs and that clindamycin may be an effective drug for treating cutaneous neosporosis.