Histoplasmosis en caninos y felinos: signos clínicos, métodos de diagnóstico y tratamiento

Abstract

Histoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease affecting a wide variety of animals caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, a dimorphic fungus endemic in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of America and Africa. Soil with abundant organic material, bird droppings and bat guano, constitutes the ecological niche of this microorganism. In this literature review the issue of canine and feline histoplasmosis is addressed, referring mainly to direct and indirect diagnostic methods employed for identification. Clinical manifestations characteristic of each stage of the disease and their treatments are described; also, a diagnostic algorithm is presented.