best way to test for blasto

[amy_in_mna]

My name is Amy, I live in Minnesota with my family and our sweet black lab named Brooke.  We have been struggling with her health since hunting season ended. 
She cycles through times of feeling just okay to looking and acting like she is feeling just terrible- some symptoms:
lack of appetite/drink
drooling
shaking
lymph nodes that seem pretty big
she feels physically tense/rigid when we pet her and also, you know that
ridge of fur along the back that some dogs raise when they are on "high
alert"?  Brooke raises that ridge (when she is not feeling well) often when
she has to go up or down the stairs or do any other moving.
lower eyelids really pull down/droop
stiff limbs
acts like it is painful to climb stairs, seems unsteady on her feet, no
desire to "go outside" which usually gets her dancing around.
But, most importantly, she had a cyst on her cheek that was aspirated about a month ago- vet (just a home-town type vet) thought some of the cells "looked like yeast" and she was worried about blasto.  She re-aspirated and sent this sample to "their lab".  The lab "didn't think it looked like blasto".  So I went with it.  She has been treated instead for a tick borne illness without too much change in her symptoms.  I have since talked with others about blasto and really need to have an actual test done to rule this out (If we could be that lucky).  I would really appreciate knowing what kind of test to insist on for blasto.
Thank you so much!
Amy in MN

[carolh]

Hi Amy,

Yes, hunting season is a time when a lot of dogs get blasto.  Here's a test that may help:  get urine sample from Brooke and have vet submit it to Mira Vista labs.  They check for antigens that when, if present, mean your sweet Brooke has blasto.  I have some concerns about Mira Vista's reading of severity of blasto, but not with the tests good track record (not perfect) of detecting whether or not blasto is present.

My vet has a theory that while dogs get blasto often in the fall, the severe sub zero temperatures we've had accelerates it.  Interesting, but totally just a theory.

It sounds as if Brooke is in a world of discomfort.  Good luck with her and I hope you and your vet can track down what's happening.  If your vet can't find the cause, any chance you could get to to U of MN vet labs for a check.  They are pretty darned good there.
Carol

[Jen]

MiraVista is good.  To get an initial diagnosis, direct stain fom a lesion is best, but there should be no reason to wait that long.  Any aspirate that shows something that looks like yeast: call it a positive and treat.  The sooner the better.
A vet shouldn't wait until they no longer need a microscope.
Search Google images for Blastomycosis.  You will agree.

jen

[Teddy]

Hi Amy,
Sorry to read you have a sick and uncomfortable dog. My dog Ted was diagnosed via a blood test. So that is an option. Blood tests can be unreliable though. Our dog had a bit of a cough with his symptoms as well, and a chest x-ray showed a cloud in his lungs and our vet started treatment before the blasto test even came back positive. He (the vet) was not concerned at all with treating with Intraconzole until the tests came back on the dog.
If your vet is thinking it is a tick related problem have they done the lyme test already? My first thought when Ted got sick was he had lyme disease...but then I was reminded we had vacinated for that.
Good luck to you. Hope you get some answers soon. 
Best Wishes
Jen

[Wilson3]

I am so sorry poor Brooke is not feel well.. and still not knowing what is causing it

Wilson's really started showing signs in late Nov and  was finally in Jan(2007) tested positive for blasto
the ER vets thought lymes even though tests came back negative
Wilson was treated with many antibiotics and also for lymes finally I demand his vet and asked about blasto again they did the blood test for blasto and took samples from his open sores and a CBC and xrays (which this was the 2nd time taken and this time they where bad) all came back positive his vet did tell me that no test is ever 100% and he was not responding to antibiotics so anti fungals was next to try (this was before the blasto tests) he did tell me that test come back wrong also
 I guess medicine still has a long way to come but when I think back to Wilson it already has come along with blasto vets at least are looking for it
I strongly feel to test in as many ways as your vet is open to testing
there is also a few other things out there that have very similar symptoms as blasto

if Brooke is not responding to other treatments what would it hurt to go ahead and start treating for blasto? even if it is another fungal instead it still would be the same treatment
you would know within the first week if it was working
direct stain from a lesion is best but takes about a week to grow unless your vet carries the blue stuff to check right away

Brooke will be in my thoughts  please stay positive  and keep pushing your vet
start treatment
please keep us posted
wilson3