Cryptococcus meningoencephalitis in a dog in Belgium

A case of Cryptococcus meningoencephalitis is reported in a two years old golden retriever. Chronic tracheitis and a central vestibular syndrome were found on clinical examination, and an eosinophilic pleocytosis on examination of the cerebrospinal fluid. Most important necropsy findings were meningoencephalitis localized predominantly a brain stem level, tracheitis and pneumonia. Histopathological examination revealed characteristic Cryptococcus granulomas in the meninges and to a lesser extent also in the brain. The yeasts were mycologically identified as Cryptococcus neoformans.