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Sarcocystid organisms found in bile from a dog with acute hepatitis: a case report and review of intestinal and hepatobiliary Sarcocystidae infections in dogs and cats
Author(s) -
Irvine Katherine L.,
Walker Julie M.,
Friedrichs Kristen R.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
veterinary clinical pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.537
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1939-165X
pISSN - 0275-6382
DOI - 10.1111/vcp.12330
Subject(s) - neospora caninum , biology , sarcocystis , toxoplasma gondii , protozoa , neospora , asymptomatic , apicomplexa , cats , virology , protozoan infection , diarrhea , parasite hosting , intermediate host , cryptosporidium , hepatitis , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , feces , immunology , host (biology) , medicine , protozoal disease , antibody , malaria , ecology , computer science , world wide web
Abstract Sarcocystidae is a family of coccidian protozoa from the phylum Apicomplexa that includes Toxoplasma , Neospora , Sarcocystis , Hammondia , and Besnoitia spp. All species undergo a 2‐host sexual and asexual cycle. In the definitive host, replication is enteroepithelial, and infection is typically asymptomatic or less commonly causes mild diarrhea. Clinical disease is most frequently observed in the intermediate host, often as an aberrant infection, and is mostly associated with neurologic, muscular, or hepatic inflammation. Here, we review the literature regarding intestinal Sarcocystidae infections in dogs and cats, with emphasis on the life cycle stages and the available diagnostic assays and their limitations. We also report the diagnostic findings for an 11‐year‐old dog with acute neutrophilic hepatitis, biliary protozoa, and negative biliary culture. Although Toxoplasma and Neospora IgG titers were both high, PCR for these 2 organisms was negative for bile. The organisms were identified by 18S rDNA PCR as most consistent with Hammondia , either H heydorni or H triffittae . This is the first report of presumed Hammondia organisms being found in canine bile.