Canine Protothecosis; Ocular Findings, Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcome in 8 Dogs.

Prototheca spp. infection causes blindness via panuveitis; suspect in chronic diarrhea cases.

This multicenter retrospective study examined canine protothecosis with emphasis on ocular manifestations across six Spanish and two Swiss veterinary practices (2017-2022). Eight dogs were evaluated, with a median age of 4.5 years. Five dogs presented with chronic diarrhea preceding ophthalmological signs. All eight cases exhibited blindness with highly cellular subretinal fluid and retinal detachment present in every case. Diagnosis was confirmed through rectal scraping, subretinal fluid cytology, footpad biopsy, globe histopathology, and intestinal biopsy, with rectal and vitreal-subretinal cytology proving most effective. All dogs received oral itraconazole treatment; one additionally received subcutaneous amphotericin B. Mean survival was 77 days post-consultation, except one bilaterally enucleated dog surviving two years. The study identifies panuveitis and high-cellular retinal detachment as characteristic findings and emphasizes that Prototheca spp. should be considered in differential diagnoses for canine chronic diarrhea.

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