Pneumocystis carinii infection with severe pneumomediastinum and lymph node involvement in a Whippet mixed-breed dog

What is it about?

This is a case report of a Whippet mixed-breed dog infected with the fungus Pneumocystis carinii. Infections in dogs are mostly severe and in high-grade cases the fungus can spread to other organs as - in the present case - the lymph node. Furthermore, the lung was strongly affected by the infection and air from the lung infiltrated the connective tissue of throat and chest.

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Why is it important?

Pneumocystis infections in dogs occur rarely and, therefore, they are not considered in the list of differential diagnoses. The determination of Pneumocystis in of lung lavage samples is mainly used, but often the fungus is not detectable in these samples. The present case report shows optional diagnostic tools, which could probably be more promising.

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