Cutaneous Invasive Opportunistic Fungal Infections in Dogs Receiving Ciclosporin for Immune-Mediated Diseases: A Case-Control Study.

Elevated neutrophil counts and ratios associated with cutaneous fungal infections in ciclosporin-treated dogs.

This case-control study investigated risk factors for cutaneous opportunistic invasive fungal infections (OIFIs) in dogs receiving ciclosporin (CsA) for immune-mediated diseases. Eight dogs that developed cutaneous OIFIs during CsA treatment were matched with 20 control dogs based on diagnosis and treatment duration. Researchers analyzed signalment, clinical data, and laboratory parameters including complete blood count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), neutrophil-to-monocyte ratio (NMR), C-reactive protein, haptoglobin, globulins, and immunoglobulin levels. Higher neutrophil counts and elevated neutrophil ratios (NLR and NMR) were the only variables significantly associated with cutaneous OIFI development. No significant associations were found between glucocorticoid use, other treatment regimens, or host factors and OIFI development. The authors conclude that further research is needed to clarify glucocorticoid effects and evaluate NLR and NMR as potential monitoring tools in immunosuppressed dogs receiving CsA therapy.

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