ESOPHAGITIS DUE TO PYTHIUM-INSIDIOSUM INFECTION IN 2 DOGS

Chronic esophagitis due to Pythium insidiosum infection caused weight loss, dysphagia, and hypersalivation in 2 dogs from rural Tennessee. A lthough dog 1 presented for evaluation in December 1984 and dog 2 in O ctober 1992, infection likely occurred during the previous summer by d rinking fresh pond water containing zoospores. Hematologic testing rev ealed eosinophilia and hypergammaglobulinemia in one dog. An etiologic diagnosis was not made until postmortem evaluation when hyphae within necrotic and granulomatous cellular infiltrates in the esophageal wal l were identified as P insidiosum by immunoperoxidase staining. Failur e to culture the organism from the esophageal wall in dog 2 was attrib uted to refrigeration of the tissues, since refrigeration decreases th e survivability of P insidiosum. J Vet Intern Med 1996;10:139-142. Cop yright (C) 1996 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicin e.