Systemic Aspergillosis in Dogs: A Historical and Current State-of-the-Art Review

Canine systemic aspergillosis is a rare but highly serious condition, often associated with a fatal outcome. This review encompasses all reported cases of canine systemic aspergillosis from 1978 to the present, focusing exclusively on studies in which the diagnosis was confirmed through fungal culture. A total of 155 clinical cases reported in the literature were included. Among these, the German Shepherd was the most frequently affected breed (65.16%), followed by mixed-breed dogs (7.74%). The predominant Aspergillus species isolated was A. terreus (57.69%), although other species were also reported, including A. deflectus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, A. caninus, A. versicolor, A. alabamensis, A. citrinoterreus, and A. floccosus. Recognizing clinical signs and accurately interpreting laboratory findings are crucial for early diagnosis and timely intervention, both of which can potentially improve outcomes. This review provides a detailed discussion of these aspects.