Diagnosis and successful treatment of an Austrian dog infected with Trypanosoma congolense forest type

Abstract

Canine African Trypanosomosis (CAT) is a rarely described disease with frequently lethal outcome. A 5-year-old female mongrel dog weighing 22 kg was presented in Austria due to unilateral uveitis, pancytopenia, and anorexia 4 months after return from a trip through Western Africa. Trypanosoma spp. flagellates were detected in a blood smear and identified as Trypanosoma congolense forest type by PCR. Initial treatment with imidocarb and miltefosine led to clinical improvement but only isometamidium chloride hydrochloride applied intramuscularly led to complete eradication of the pathogen from the dog’s blood 4 months later.

Zusammenfassung

Die kanine afrikanische Trypanosomosis wurde bislang selten beschrieben mit zumeist letalem Ausgang. Eine 5 Jahre alte Mischlingshündin mit einem Körpergewicht von 22 kg wurde in Österreich wegen einer einseitigen Uveitis, einer Panzytopenie und Anorexie 4 Monate nach der Rückkehr von einem Aufenthalt in Westafrika vorgestellt. Im Blutausstrich wurden Trypanosoma spp.-Flagellaten gefunden und mittels PCR als Trypanosoma congolense forest type identifiziert. Die initiale Behandlung mit Imidocarb und Miltefosin bewirkte eine klinische Verbesserung, aber erst die intramuskuläre Applikation von Isometamidiumchlorid-Hydrochlorid führte zur Erregerelimination 4 Monate nach der Diagnosestellung.

Key words

Canine African trypanosomosis - uveitis - imidocarb - miltefosine - isometamidium

Schlüsselwörter

Kanine afrikanische Trypanosomiasis - Uveitis - Imidocarb - Miltefosin - Isometamidium

Publication History

Received: 21 April 2020

Accepted: 01 September 2020

Article published online:
26 April 2021

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