Canine Leproid Granuloma: Case report

Abstract

Canine Leproid Granuloma is a disease caused by a mycobacterium that causes nodular lesions, which can affect the dermis and/or subcutaneous tissue, usually being firm on palpation, painless, and can be alopecic and ulcerated. Its pathogenesis is still uncertain, and may have a self-limiting character. The most predisposed breed is the Boxer, and usually affects animals with short coats, affecting areas such as the pinna, face and chest members. The diagnosis is made through the history, racial pattern and characteristic of the lesions, but complementary exams, such as cytology, histopathology or even the PCR are necessary to confirm the disease. Surgical treatment is based on surgical excision and the clinical on antibiotic therapy, which is the most used treatment. This can be administered systemically and/or topically, which prioritizes the use of drugs such as doxycycline, rifampicin, enrofloxacin, among others, and is usually a long treatment, ranging from two to 12 months. The present study aims to report four cases of Canine Leproid Granuloma, attended at the Veterinary School Clinic Prof. Dr. Marcos Vinicius Tranquilimof the Midwest State University, Guarapuava-PR, between 2019 and 2020, one Boxer, one Pitbull and two mixed breed animals, all presenting nodules/ulcerative lesions in the ear. Three of these animals performed cytology as a diagnostic method, and one of them, histopathology. All received treatment with Enrofloxacin 10 mg/kg, once a day, associated with the use of rifamycin or rifocina spray, twice a day. Two animals had a good response and completed the treatment with approximately 40 days, one did not complete the treated and one had to undergo surgical excision of the nodules, for not responding to clinical treatment.