Protozoal Infection in Dogs

Protozoal infections are disorders caused by a variety of different organisms affecting multiple systems, causing a variety of many different signs and diseases.

General Causes

Giardiasis caused by Giardia species

Trichomoniasis caused by Pentatrichomonas hominis

Amebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica

Balantidiasis caused by Balantidium coli

Coccidiosis caused by Cystoisospora (most commonly)

Cryptosporidiosis caused by Cryptosporidium parvum

Toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii

Acanthamebiasis caused by Acanthamoeba species

Babesiosis caused by Babesia species

Cytauxzoonosis caused by Cytauxzoon felis

Leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania species

Trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi

Hepatozoonosis caused by Hepatozoon canis

Encephalitozoonosis caused by Encephalitozoon cuniculi

Pneumocystosis caused by Pneumocystis carinii

Neosporosis caused by Neospora caninum

What to Watch For

Due to the many different organisms with a variety of effects on the individual, multiple signs are seen, depending on the particular organism.

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Fever

Anorexia

Weight loss

Cough

Difficulty breathing

Depression

Yellow color

Enlarged lymph nodes

Seizures

Muscle spasm

Paralysis

Blindness

Diagnosis

Baseline tests include a complete blood count (CBC), biochemical profile and urinalysis. Changes are variable, depending on the organ system(s) involved. Additional tests include:

Fecal evaluations

Chest and abdominal X-rays

Serologic testing

Direct organism identification, if possible, either via aspirate (removing and evaluating cells) or biopsy (evaluation of tissue)

Treatment

Depending on the specific protozoan organism, therapeutic recommendations will vary. Intensive supportive care may be indicated in some cases, such as fluids and blood transfusions. Depending on the protozoa, specific antibiotics and specific deworming agents may be necessary.

Home Care and Prevention

Administer all medication as directed by your veterinarian. Contact your veterinarian at once if your pet is not responding to therapy and/or getting worse. Return for follow up examination and testing as recommended by your veterinarian.

Prohibiting exposure to infected individuals can help prevent infection. Sanitation is important and avoiding contact with the intermediate host is important in prevention.