Canine keratomycosis: A report of eight cases and literature review

Eight cases of canine keratomycosis were diagnosed and treated. Additionally, five previously reported cases were reviewed, making a total of 13 cases. Keratomycosis was found to be a disease of young and old dogs. Infections occurred in 1/8 (new) or 4/13 (total) dogs two years of age or less, and 5/8 (new) or 7/13 (total) dogs eight years of age or more. Of the 13 total cases, males outnumbered females three to one. Enucleation was performed in two dogs that had underlying keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) and in one dog that had received a corneal transplant. Valuable diagnostic techniques in this case series included corneal cytology, demonstrating yeast or hyphae in 5/8 (new) and 9/13 (total) cases, and fungal cultures in 6/8 (new) and 10/13 (total) cases on Sabouraud's or blood agar. Fungal organisms isolated included Aspergillus sp. (n=5), Scedosporium sp. (n=1), Acremonium sp. (n=1), Fusarium sp. (n=1), Cephalosporium sp. (n=1), Alternaria sp. (n=1), Pseudoallescheria sp. (n=1), and Curvularia sp. (n=1). Of the 13 total cases, eight responded well to medical therapy. One case had cytologic evidence of infection after five months of therapy. Keratomycosis in the dog generally was a treatable disease in the absence of preexisting KCS or severe corneal pathology.