Acanthamoebiasis in a Dog

Abstract

Acanthamoeba infection occurred in a 4-year-old military working dog (German shepherd). The disease was manifested by multifocal necrohemorrhagic foci in the heart, lungs, liver, and pancreas. Numerous organisms morphologically compatible with Acanthamoeba sp. were seen in the lesions. The infection may have been caused by local invasion of a wound and hematogenous spread, via the respiratory tract, by inhalation of the organisms, or by direct extension of an inapparent nasal infection.