Clinical Signs, Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Findings, Treatment, and Outcome of Mycotic Discospondylitis in 11 Dogs
ABSTRACT Background Discospondylitis refers to inflammation of the intervertebral disc and adjacent vertebral endplates. The literature on mycotic discospondylitis (MD) in dogs is limited. Objective To describe clinical and advanced diagnostic imaging findings, therapeutic strategies, and outcomes i...
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Wiley
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.70097 |
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| author | Samuel Okonji Andrea Di Paola Silvia Benini Antonella Gallucci Alberto Cauduro Cristian Falzone Teresa Gagliardo Gualtiero Gandini |
| author_facet | Samuel Okonji Andrea Di Paola Silvia Benini Antonella Gallucci Alberto Cauduro Cristian Falzone Teresa Gagliardo Gualtiero Gandini |
| author_sort | Samuel Okonji |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Background Discospondylitis refers to inflammation of the intervertebral disc and adjacent vertebral endplates. The literature on mycotic discospondylitis (MD) in dogs is limited. Objective To describe clinical and advanced diagnostic imaging findings, therapeutic strategies, and outcomes in dogs with a confirmed diagnosis of MD. Animals Eleven client‐owned dogs with a diagnosis of MD. Materials and Methods Medical records from five veterinary neurological referral centers were retrospectively reviewed between 2017 and 2024. The confirmed diagnosis of MD was based on clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and the detection of fungal hyphae in urine, intervertebral disc, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Results German shepherd (GS) were the most prevalent breed (7/11). Pain was the main clinical sign reported in all dogs, associated with gait abnormalities in 9 dogs. T3‐L3 neuroanatomical localization was described in 10 dogs. MRI showed multiple intervertebral disc involvement in 7 dogs. Fungal hyphae were identified in urine sediment in 5 dogs and by CT‐guided needle aspiration of the affected disc in 2 dogs. Aspergillus spp. was the most common etiological agent being reported in 7 dogs. Ten dogs were dead at the end of data analysis, with a median survival time of 30 days. Conclusion and Clinical Importance This case series demonstrates the necessity of accurate diagnosis to set an appropriate treatment, despite the poor prognosis after antifungal therapy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-03dd35d47bf7472b9610123c69f5bb97 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0891-6640 1939-1676 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-03dd35d47bf7472b9610123c69f5bb972025-08-20T01:53:49ZengWileyJournal of Veterinary Internal Medicine0891-66401939-16762025-05-01393n/an/a10.1111/jvim.70097Clinical Signs, Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Findings, Treatment, and Outcome of Mycotic Discospondylitis in 11 DogsSamuel Okonji0Andrea Di Paola1Silvia Benini2Antonella Gallucci3Alberto Cauduro4Cristian Falzone5Teresa Gagliardo6Gualtiero Gandini7Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences Università degli Studi di Bologna Ozzano dell'Emilia ItalyNeurovet Milano ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences Università degli Studi di Bologna Ozzano dell'Emilia ItalyCentro Veterinario Professionale La Fenice Assemini ItalyNeurovet Milano ItalyClinica Veterinaria Pedrani Diagnostica Piccoli Animali Srl Thiene ItalyDiagnostic Center Palermovet Palermo ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences Università degli Studi di Bologna Ozzano dell'Emilia ItalyABSTRACT Background Discospondylitis refers to inflammation of the intervertebral disc and adjacent vertebral endplates. The literature on mycotic discospondylitis (MD) in dogs is limited. Objective To describe clinical and advanced diagnostic imaging findings, therapeutic strategies, and outcomes in dogs with a confirmed diagnosis of MD. Animals Eleven client‐owned dogs with a diagnosis of MD. Materials and Methods Medical records from five veterinary neurological referral centers were retrospectively reviewed between 2017 and 2024. The confirmed diagnosis of MD was based on clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and the detection of fungal hyphae in urine, intervertebral disc, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Results German shepherd (GS) were the most prevalent breed (7/11). Pain was the main clinical sign reported in all dogs, associated with gait abnormalities in 9 dogs. T3‐L3 neuroanatomical localization was described in 10 dogs. MRI showed multiple intervertebral disc involvement in 7 dogs. Fungal hyphae were identified in urine sediment in 5 dogs and by CT‐guided needle aspiration of the affected disc in 2 dogs. Aspergillus spp. was the most common etiological agent being reported in 7 dogs. Ten dogs were dead at the end of data analysis, with a median survival time of 30 days. Conclusion and Clinical Importance This case series demonstrates the necessity of accurate diagnosis to set an appropriate treatment, despite the poor prognosis after antifungal therapy.https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.70097antimycotic treatmentaspergillosisdiskospondylitisfungalmicrobiologysystemic mycosis |
| spellingShingle | Samuel Okonji Andrea Di Paola Silvia Benini Antonella Gallucci Alberto Cauduro Cristian Falzone Teresa Gagliardo Gualtiero Gandini Clinical Signs, Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Findings, Treatment, and Outcome of Mycotic Discospondylitis in 11 Dogs Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine antimycotic treatment aspergillosis diskospondylitis fungal microbiology systemic mycosis |
| title | Clinical Signs, Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Findings, Treatment, and Outcome of Mycotic Discospondylitis in 11 Dogs |
| title_full | Clinical Signs, Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Findings, Treatment, and Outcome of Mycotic Discospondylitis in 11 Dogs |
| title_fullStr | Clinical Signs, Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Findings, Treatment, and Outcome of Mycotic Discospondylitis in 11 Dogs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Clinical Signs, Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Findings, Treatment, and Outcome of Mycotic Discospondylitis in 11 Dogs |
| title_short | Clinical Signs, Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Findings, Treatment, and Outcome of Mycotic Discospondylitis in 11 Dogs |
| title_sort | clinical signs advanced diagnostic imaging findings treatment and outcome of mycotic discospondylitis in 11 dogs |
| topic | antimycotic treatment aspergillosis diskospondylitis fungal microbiology systemic mycosis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.70097 |
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