Pneumocystis Colonization in Dogs Is as in Humans

Patrizia Danesi, Matteo Petini, Christian Falcaro, Michela Bertola, Elisa Mazzotta, Tommaso Furlanello, Mark Krockenberger and Richard Malik
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Patrizia Danesi: Parasitology, Mycology and Medical Enthomology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy
Matteo Petini: Clinica e Laboratorio Veterinario San Marco, Veggiano, 35030 Padua, Italy
Christian Falcaro: Parasitology, Mycology and Medical Enthomology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy
Michela Bertola: Parasitology, Mycology and Medical Enthomology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy
Elisa Mazzotta: Parasitology, Mycology and Medical Enthomology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy
Tommaso Furlanello: Clinica e Laboratorio Veterinario San Marco, Veggiano, 35030 Padua, Italy
Mark Krockenberger: Veterinary Pathology Diagnostic Services, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Richard Malik: Centre for Veterinary Education, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: Pneumocystis is an atypical fungus that resides in the pulmonary parenchyma of many mammals, including humans and dogs. Immunocompetent human hosts are usually asymptomatically colonised or show subtle clinical signs, but some immunocompromised people can develop florid life-threatening Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). Since much less is known concerning Pneumocystis in dogs, we posit the question: can Pneumocystis colonization be present in dogs with inflammatory airway or lung disease caused by other pathogens or disease processes? In this study, Pneumocystis DNA was detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of 22/255 dogs (9%) with respiratory distress and/or chronic cough. Although young dogs (<1 year-of-age) and pedigree breeds were more often Pneumocystis -qPCR positive than older dogs and crossbreds, adult dogs with other infectious conditions and/or a history of therapy-resistant pulmonary disease could also be qPCR-positive, including two patients with suppression of the immune system. Absence of pathognomonic clinical or radiographic signs render it impossible to convincingly discriminate between overt PCP versus other lung/airway disease processes colonised by P. canis . It is possible that colonisation with P. canis might play a certain role as a co-pathogen in some canine patients with lower respiratory disease.

Keywords: Pneumocystis canis; dog; canine; pneumocystosis; Cavalier King Charles spaniel; pneumonia; bronchitis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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