Prototheca zopfii genotype 2 disseminated infection in a dog with neurological signs

Prototheca zopfii is an alga that can cause disease in animals and humans. Here, we reported a case of systemic protothecosis in a 2-year-old female Boxer. The animal exhibited tetraparesis and vertical nystagmus. It died two weeks after the onset of clinical signs and was necropsied. At gross examination, whitish areas were identified in the heart. Oval or round structures were observed by microscopic examination, some of which formed morula-like structures compatible with algae in the heart, skeletal muscle, and brain. Growth of Prototheca sp. was observed in the heart after culture at 37°C on Sabouraud agar medium with chloramphenicol. Immunohistochemical analysis of the heart and brain using an anti-Prototheca zopfii polyclonal antibody yielded positive results. Genotyping of the cultured agent from brain and heart samples was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism of a specific 18S rDNA fragment. P. zopfii genotype 2 was reported to be the cause of disseminated protothecosis in this dog with manifestation in the brain, heart, and skeletal muscle

Infecção por Prototheca zopfii genótipo 2 disseminada em um cão com sinais neurológicos

Prototheca zopfii is an alga that can cause disease in animals and humans. Here, we reported a case of systemic protothecosis in a 2-year-old female Boxer. The animal exhibited tetraparesis and vertical nystagmus. It died two weeks after the onset of clinical signs and was necropsied. At gross examination, whitish areas were identified in the heart. Oval or round structures were observed by microscopic examination, some of which formed morula-like structures compatible with algae in the heart, skeletal muscle, and brain. Growth of Prototheca sp. was observed in the heart after culture at 37°C on Sabouraud agar medium with chloramphenicol. Immunohistochemical analysis of the heart and brain using an anti-Prototheca zopfii polyclonal antibody yielded positive results. Genotyping of the cultured agent from brain and heart samples was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism of a specific 18S rDNA fragment. P. zopfii genotype 2 was reported to be the cause of disseminated protothecosis in this dog with manifestation in the brain, heart, and skeletal muscle.A prototecose é uma infecção causada por algas, causadora de doenças em animais e seres humanos. O presente trabalho tem por objetivo relatar um caso de prototecose sistêmica em um canino fêmea, da raça Boxer de dois anos de idade. O animal apresentava tetraparesia e nistagmo vertical. O animal morreu duas semanas após o início dos sinais clínicos e foi realizado o exame de necropsia. Os achados macroscópicos se caracterizavam principalmente por áreas esbranquiçadas no miocárdio. Na histologia observou-se estruturas ovais ou redondas, algumas apresentando estruturas como mórulas compatíveis com Prototheca no coração, músculo esquelético e encéfalo. No cultivo do miocárdio em meio Agar Sabouraud com Chloramphenicol a 37o C foi observado o crescimento de Prototheca sp. No teste imunohistoquímico do coração, cérebro e cerebelo com anticorpo policlonal anti-P. zopffi, foi observada marcação positiva. Teste de PCR a partir da cultura do agente usando uma sequência de 18S rDNA foi realizado para a tipificação do genótipo. P. zopfii genótipo 2 foi encontrado como causa de prototecose disseminada no encéfalo, coração e músculo esquelético nesse cão