NASAL RHINOSPORIDIOSIS IN DOGS - 4 CASES FROM EUROPE AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

This paper describes four cases of canine rhinosporidiosis which occur red in Italy in 1994 and 1995, Four dogs with a history of exposure to the muddy environment of rice fields, developed respiratory signs. Rh inoscopy revealed nasal polypoid lesions with a characteristic gross a ppearance due to the presence of multiple, tiny, white-yellowish spots representing sporangia filled with spores. In cytological samples obt ained by brushing, many spores were present in an inflammatory backgro und. Histologically, the polyps consisted of fibrovascular tissue embe dding sporangia in different developmental stages, and free spores whi ch elicited a severe pyogranulomatous inflammation. All the dogs were treated surgically and the condition did not recur in two cases during a year's follow-up and in the other two cases during two years.