Introduction

Classification

Taxonomy

• Algae.

Active Forms

Clinical Effects

Epidemiology

Habitat

• Widespread in nature; raw and untreated sewage, animal waste.

Lifecycle

• Multiplies by endosporulation in host tissues and the environment.

Transmission

• By ingestion, percutaneously or by intramammary injection in dairy cows.

Pathological effects

• Immunodeficiency in the host animal may be a predisposing factor.

• Tissue reactions are pyogranulomatous.
• Bovine: chronic progressive mastitis occurs.
• Canine: disease is usually disseminated and accompanied by hemorrhagic diarrhea, ocular lesions.
• Feline and human: disease is cutaneous.

Control

Control via animal

• In dairy cows the affected animals are a danger to other cows and should be culled immediately.
• Treatment of other animal species is not successful.

Control via chemotherapies

• Not successful in animals (amphotericin B and ketoconazole are used in humans).

Diagnosis

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Ginel P J, Pérez J, Molleda J M et al (1997) Cutaneous protothecosis in a dog. Vet Rec 140 (25), 651-653 PubMed.
• Blogg J R & Sykes J E (1995) Sudden blindness associated with protothecosis in a dog. Australian Vet J 72 (4), 147-149 PubMed.
• Thomas J B & Preston N (1990) Generalised protothecosis in a collie dog. Australian Vet J 67 (1), 25-27 PubMed.
• Rakich P M & Latimer K S (1984) Altered immune function in a dog with disseminated protothecosis. JAVMA 185 (6), 681-683 PubMed.