Histologic stain of a Prototheca zopfii infection in a dog
Specialty
Infectious diseases
Protothecosis, otherwise known as Algaemia, is a disease found in dogs, cats, cattle, and humans caused by a type of green alga known as Prototheca that lacks chlorophyll and enters the human or animal bloodstream. It and its close relative Helicosporidium are unusual in that they are actually green algae that have become parasites.[1] The two most common species are Prototheca wickerhamii and Prototheca zopfii. Both are known to cause disease in dogs, while most human cases are caused by P. wickerhami.[2]Prototheca is found worldwide in sewage and soil. Infection is rare despite high exposure, and can be related to a defective immune system.[3] In dogs, females and Collies are most commonly affected.[4]
The first human case was identified in 1964 in Sierra Leone.[5]
^Tartar A, Boucias DG, Adams BJ, Becnel JJ (2002). "Phylogenetic analysis identifies the invertebrate pathogen Helicosporidium sp as a green alga (Chlorophyta)". Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 52 (Pt 1): 273–9. doi:10.1099/00207713-52-1-273. PMID 11837312.
^Leimann B, Monteiro P, Lazéra M, Candanoza E, Wanke B (2004). "Protothecosis". Med Mycol. 42 (2): 95–106. doi:10.1080/13695780310001653653. PMID 15124862.
^Hosaka S, Hosaka M (2004). "A case report of canine protothecosis". J Vet Med Sci. 66 (5): 593–7. doi:10.1292/jvms.66.593. PMID 15187378.
^Ettinger, Stephen J., Feldman, Edward C. (1995). Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine (4th ed.). W.B. Saunders Company. ISBN 978-0-7216-6795-9.
^Lass-Flörl C, Fille M, Gunsilius E, Gastl G, Nachbaur D (2004). "Disseminated infection with Prototheca zopfii after unrelated stem cell transplantation for leukemia". J. Clin. Microbiol. 42 (10): 4907–8. doi:10.1128/JCM.42.10.4907-4908.2004. PMC 522359. PMID 15472379.
Protothecosis, otherwise known as Algaemia, is a disease found in dogs, cats, cattle, and humans caused by a type of green alga known as Prototheca that...
thus forfeited their photosynthetic ability. Some species can cause protothecosis in humans and various vertebratae. From the Greek proto- (first) + thēkē...
genus Prototheca lack chlorophyll and are known to cause the disease protothecosis in humans, dogs, cats, and cattle, typically involving the soil-associated...
These achlorophic algae switch to parasitism and thus cause the disease protothecosis in human and animals. The chemical composition of microalgae is not...
including focal cutaneous lesions, lymphadenitis, and peritonitis. Protothecosis Hart, J.; Mooney, L.; Arthur, I.; Inglis, T. J.; Murray, R. (2014)....
environment but is a rare cause of opportunistic infection in humans (protothecosis). P. wickerhamii has a round to elliptical cell shape measuring 3–11 μm...
heterotrophic green alga Prototheca are pathogenic and can cause the disease protothecosis in humans and animals. Characteristics used for the classification of...
called protothecosis. This disease mainly infects cattle and dogs. Cattle can be affected by prototheca enteritis and mastitis. Protothecosis is commonly...
cases of algaemia or, protothecosis, are examined on a case-by-case basis due to the particularity of each case. Protothecosis infection is classified...
hemolytic anemia in dogs. Neosporosis* is caused by Neospora caninum Protothecosis in dogs is caused by a mutant form of green algae and is usually disseminated...
the main cause of mastitis. However, in 2017, three cases of human protothecosis due to P. zopfii genotype I have been reported in China. Bovine mastitis...
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