Sporotrichosis outburst after cancer chemotherapy in a dog

ABSTRACT

Background: Sporotrichosis is a dermatozoonosis that affects mammals in general, with the domestic feline (Felis catus)being the most epidemiologically important species. However, diagnosis of this disease in dogs is important consideringthe proximity with people and with other communicants. The epidemiology of sporotrichosis is already known in somestates of Brazil, especially in the southeast region, but to the best of our knowledge there are no reports of sporotrichosisin non-human species in the state of Espírito Santo. This paper aimed at describing the first case of canine sporotrichosisin Espírito Santo, Brazil.Case A 10 year-old Bull Terrier male dog was presented with nodular non-ulcerated lesions on the head and nodularulcerated lesion on the nasal planum. The dog had a previous diagnosis of a low-grade mast cell tumour and palpebralmelanoma. Mast cell tumour was treated with scrotum ablation (and orchiectomy) and bilateral inguinal lymph node removal, followed by chemotherapy with twelve intravenous infusion of vinblastine, along with prednisolone. Cutaneouslesions in the head and nasal planum appeared two months after finishing chemotherapy. At further anamnesis, the pet´sresponsible reported that the dog had the habit of hunting cats that entered the residence, which raised the hypothesis ofsporotrichosis. An undiagnostic cytology was performed, followed by a fungal culture, positive for Sporothrix schenckii.Treatment was then initiated with itraconazol (Oficial generic drug), at a dose of 10mg/kg/SID, until clinical remission,obtained after 60 days, maintaining it for 60 more days. Patient showed completed recovery, with no further complatintsafter a follow-up of more than 220 days.Discussion: Sporotrichosis is considered a rare disease in dogs, with isolated cases in the literature...