Protozoal Diseases of Dogs
Protozoal diseases of dogs are disorders caused by a variety of different protozoal organisms affecting multiple systems, causing a variety of many different signs and diseases.
General Causes of Protozoal Diseases of Dogs
- Giardiasis caused by Giardia species
- Trichomoniasis caused by Pentatrichomonas hominis
- Amebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica
- Balantidiasis caused by Balantidium coli
- Coccidiosis caused by Cystoisospora (most commonly)
- Cryptosporidiosis caused by Cryptosporidium parvum
- Toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii
- Acanthamebiasis caused by Acanthamoeba species
- Babesiosis caused by Babesia species
- Cytauxzoonosis caused by Cytauxzoon felis
- Leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania species
- Trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi
- Hepatozoonosis caused by Hepatozoon canis
- Encephalitozoonosis caused by Encephalitozoon cuniculi
- Pneumocystosis caused by Pneumocystis carinii
- Neosporosis caused by Neospora caninum
Clinical Signs
Due to the many different organisms with a variety of effects on the individual, multiple signs are seen, depending on the particular organism.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Depression
- Yellow color
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Seizures
- Muscle spasm
- Paralysis
- Blindness
Diagnosis
Baseline tests include a complete blood count (CBC), biochemical profile and urinalysis.
Changes are variable, depending on the organ system(s) involved. Additional tests include:
- Fecal evaluations
- Chest and abdominal X-rays
- Serologic testing
Direct organism identification, if possible, either via aspirate (removing and evaluating cells) or biopsy (evaluation of tissue).
Treatment
Depending on the specific protozoan organism, therapeutic recommendations will vary.
Depending on the protozoa, specific antibiotics and specific deworming agents may be necessary as following:
Intensive supportive care may be indicated in some cases, such as fluids and blood transfusions.
Prevention
Regular deworming is the best way to prevent any parasitic disease. Prohibiting exposure to infected individuals can help prevent infection.
Sanitation is important and avoiding contact with the intermediate host is important in prevention.
Enteric Protozoal Diseases
- Trichomoniasis
- Amebiasis
- Balantidiasis
- Enteric Coccidiosis
- Crytosporidiasis
- Giardiasis
Non-enteric Coccidian Protozoal Diseases
- Toxoplasmosis
- Neosporiosis
- Hepatozoonosis
