The Dog as a Natural Host for Histoplasma Capsulatum
Report of a Case of Histoplasmosis in This Animal
W. A. de Monbreun
From the Departments of Pathology of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and the Nashville General Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee
1. A generalized infection in a dog by a fungus proven to beidentical with Histoplasma capsulatum of Darling in all of itsphases in both the tissues of its host, and in cultures is reported.
2. The fungus was cultivated and found to fulfil all of Koch'spostulates.
3. This is the first report of Histoplasmosisoccurring in anynatural host other than man.
4. The diseasewas also transmitted to dogs and puppies by feedingthem culturesof the fungus.
5. The infected dog might possibly transmitthe infectious agentto man in infected excreta and secretions,or it might be possiblethat the flea or the tick acts as atransmitting agent.
6. Histoplasmosis is probably more commonthan is indicatedby the medical literature.
7. In obscurecases of splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy, Histoplasmacapsulatumshould be searched for in blood films, biopsies oflymph nodes,and in cultures of blood and lymph nodes.