Pythiosis, an emerging tropical disease that attacks plants and animals, is in the news again this fall with a drastic increase in cases. You can read about this disease below or visit www.pythiosis.com for additional info.

Stats from this website show recent cases in the following areas: Milwaukee, WI; Huntsville, AL; Taylor, MS; Port Saint Lucie, FL; SW Ranches, FL; Orlando, FL; Dryden, VA; West Monroe, LA; Marion, LA; Cherry Valley, IL; Morris, OK; Carlinville, IL; Louisville, KY; Houston, AR; Lake Rosemound, LA; Hawkinsville, GA; Tarpley, TX; Prairie Home, MO; Atlanta, GA.

Pythiosis – caused by an organism called Pythium Insidiosum.

Pythium insidiosum is an aquatic fungus-like pathogen that causes granulomatous disease (or swamp cancer) in animals such as horses, cattle, dogs, and cats. Human infection is rare and was first diagnosed in Thailand in 1986. Because of the severe progression of the disease, rapidly sensitive and specific tests are necessary for diagnosis and prognosis monitoring.

Many dogs with pythiosis have a history of recurrent exposure to warm freshwater habitats in Gulf Coastal states. However, some cases are observed in suburban house dogs with no history of access to lakes or ponds. Studies show that dogs that often drink water that is stagnant and those who regularly eat grass are prone to having canine pythiosis because the causative fungus-like pathogen may be ingested. Characterized by lesions that can be sub-cutaneous or cutaneous, canine pythiosis can be acquired by the dog from an infected open wound on the skin and gastrointestinal lesions that are achieved when the “p. insidiosum” came in close contact with the dog’s mucous membranes.

Clinical symptoms associated with Gl pythiosis include weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or blood in the stool. Other symptoms may include the formation of solid tumor-like masses in the gastrointestinal areas, the thickening of the mucous membrane as well as ulceration of other organs are evident. With the spread of the organism to neighboring tissues and organs like the dog’s uterus, pancreas, and lymph nodes, hyperplasia, and atrophy, canine pythiosis can be fatal if remained untreated.

Today, treatment of canine pythiosis can be complicated because it is considered a relatively new canine disease. Because it is a recent development in dog’s diseases, small veterinary or traditional animal practitioners are not even familiar how the clinical procedure should be done in treating the disease.