Infezione sistemica da Aspergillus fumigatus in un Bracco tedesco presentato per zoppia e sintomatologia neurologica. Case Report.

A 4-year-old Kurzhaar dog, was submitted for a not-responding betametasone-treated lameness and altered gait. Physical examination revealed neurologic symptoms due to a peripheral nervous system or a neuro-muscular-plaque disorder. Differential diagnosis considered: traumatic, endocrine, metabolic, infectious, neoplastic and degenerative diseases. CBC, biochemical profile, fT4, cTSH; urinalysis with cortisol/creatinine ratio and serology for E. canis and B. burgdorferi were performed. The diagnostic plan was completed with a spinal, elbow, abdominal and thoracic radiographic examination and an electromyography. Thoracic radiography revealed a lobar atelectasy and a diffuse interstitial-nodular pattern. The other tests were unremarkable. A broncoscopy was performed and Aspergillus fumigatus was cultured following a Bronco-alveolar lavage. A 6 months long treatment with 5mg/Kg/day oral Itraconazole was started. The dog recovered completely without any relapse three months after the end of the treatment.