Clinical Fungal Endocarditis as a Component of Presumptive Systemic Aspergillosis Infection in a Dog

L. Kay Drake ^*

• Ethos Veterinary Health, woburn ma, United States

A 2-year-old 26-kilogram female spayed mixed breed dog presented for acute azotemia, a new heart murmur, anorexia, and lethargy. Further workup revealed marked azotemia with bilateral renal changes on abdominal ultrasound. An echocardiogram detected vegetative lesion on the mitral valve, consistent with infective endocarditis. The patient tested positive for the galactomannan antigen (Aspergillus EIA Galactomannan Test by MiraVista) leading to a presumptive diagnosis of systemic aspergillosis. Despite aggressive treatment, the patient continued to deteriorate and developed signs of dyspnea which temporarily improved with furosemide therapy (VetOne; Boise, ID). After humane euthanasia, postmortem evaluation confirmed fungal endocarditis. This is the first published case of clinical endocarditis in a dog suspected to be from aspergillosis based on both antemortem diagnostics and postmortem pathology. Thus, this case serves to further our understanding of systemic aspergillosis manifestations which in turn can aid in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the condition.A 2-year-old 26-kilogram female spayed mixed breed dog presented to Veterinary Specialty Hospital (VSH) for lethargy, acute severe azotemia, and a new grade IV/VI left apical systolic heart murmur. She was originally adopted at 6 months of age and has no reported previous clinical concerns aside from presumed urinary sphincter mechanism incontinence which was controlled with phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride (Proin; PRN Pharmacal; Pensacola, FL). The patient had hematology and biochemistry values within reference intervals two months prior to presentation. Two weeks before presentation the patient had seen her primary veterinarian for decreased activity and appetite. She transiently improved following a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories which were prescribed to address suspected cervical pain. Due to continued malaise the primary veterinarian performed lab work which revealed