B dermatitidis infections in dogs have a variable clinical presentation that may include pyogranulomatous lesions of the skin, lameness, respiratory signs, and anorexia. Most infections are due to inhalation of spores found in the environment, with primary infection establishing in the lungs. Thus, cutaneous lesions are often a manifestation of systemic disease. Fever and lymphadenopathy are common. Long-term antifungal therapy is usually necessary to resolve the infection. This condition is generally limited to North America, with predominance in the Midwest and eastern US. Dogs may serve as a sentinel for the agent being present in the environment.
Find out more about Blastomyces in the Vet Manual.
References
Foy DS, Tepanier LA, Kirshc EJ, et al: Serum and urine Blastomyces antigen concentrations as markers of clinical remission in dogs treated for systemic blastomycosis. J Vet Intern Med. 2014 Mar-Apr;28(2):305-10. doi: 10.1111/jvim.12306
Anderson JL, Sloss BL, Meece JK: Clinical and molecular epidemiology of veterinary blastomycoses in Wisconsin. BMC Vet Res. 2013 Apr 22;9-84. doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-84
McMichael MA, O’Brien M, Smith SA: Hypercoagulability in dogs with blastomycoses. J Vet Intern Med. 2015 Mar-Apr;29(2):499-504. doi: 10.1111/jvim.12538