A Case of Prototheca zopfii Genotype 1 Infection in a Dog (Canis lupus familiaris).
Protothecosis is a rare disease caused by environmental algae of the genus Prototheca. These are saprophytic, non-photosynthetic, aerobic, colorless algae that belong to the Chlorellaceae family. Seven different species have been described. Prototheca zopfii genotype 2 and P. wickerhamii are most commonly involved in pathogenic infections in humans and animals. The objective of this work is to describe, for the first time, a case of protothecosis caused by P. zopfii genotype 1 in a dog. The dog, a 4-year-old mix bred male, was presented to a veterinary clinic in Montevideo, Uruguay, with multiple skin nodules, one of which was excised by surgical biopsy. The sample was examined histologically and processed by PCR, DNA sequencing, and restriction fragments length polymorphisms for the detection and genotyping of P. zopfii. In addition, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were performed. Histology showed severe ulcerative granulomatous dermatitis and panniculitis with myriads of pleomorphic algae. Algal cells were 4-17 µm in size, with an amphophilic, 2-4-µm-thick wall frequently surrounded by a clear halo, contained flocculant material and a deeply basophilic nucleus, and internal septae with daughter cells (endospores) consistent with endosporulation. Ultrastructurally, algal cells/endospores at different stages of development were found within parasitophorous vacuoles in macrophages. Prototheca zopfii genotype 1 was identified by molecular testing, confirming the etiologic diagnosis of protothecosis.
['Silveira|Caroline S|CS|', 'Cesar|Deborah|D|', 'Keating|M Kelly|MK|', 'DeLeon-Carnes|Marlene|M|', 'Armién|Aníbal G|AG|', 'Luhers|Martín|M|', 'Riet-Correa|Franklin|F|', 'Giannitti|Federico|F|http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8799-6848']
D000818:Animals D001706:Biopsy D048028:DNA, Algal D004283:Dog Diseases D004285:Dogs D005838:Genotype D006651:Histocytochemistry D007239:Infections D008297:Male D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length D011525:Prototheca D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA D012867:Skin D014583:Uruguay
Dog Protothecosis Algal diseases Algal infection Genotypic characterization South America