Identification of Cyniclomyces guttulatus through parasitological examination of feces in a canine puppy: case report

Abstract

Among the most recurring diseases in veterinary clinical practice, gastroenteritis has a high prevalence, presenting clinical signs of vomiting and diarrhea, with varied etiology such as bacterial, parasitic, viral, and fungal infections, as well as cases of intoxication. Cyniclomyces guttulatus is a commensal fungus found in the natural microbiota of rabbits and rodents, which has been reported as an opportunistic cause of gastrointestinal disorders in dogs. In this context, a two-month-old puppy undergoing its first vaccination and deworming was attended to at the Veterinary Hospital of the Octávio Bastos Foundation University Center (Unifeob), with a history of mucous diarrhea after a gradual change of diet. A parasitological examination of feces was performed, revealing the presence of cylindrical yeast-like cells of Cyniclomyces guttulatus in three samples collected on consecutive days using centrifugal flotation with zinc sulfate and direct fecal examination, with no evidence of co-infection with other intestinal parasites. Following the diagnosis, treatment was initiated for twenty days with Fluconazole 5mg/kg, administered every 72 hours. Post-treatment, a fecal sample was examined, still showing the presence of yeast-like structures. However, due to the incomplete status of immunization and deworming in the young dog, it was decided not to repeat the treatment. Instead, a new fecal collection was suggested after the completion of sanitary protocols. Upon this subsequent collection, the puppy did not show the presence of the structures in fecal analysis. This finding was associated with the ongoing development of the animal’s immunity at this stage of life.