Bacillus piliformis infection in an adult dog

Bacillus piliformis infection (Tyzzer's disease) was diagnosed in a 7-year-old spayed dog that had icterus, hepatosplenomegaly, and polyuria. Hematology revealed regenerative anemia, leukocytosis, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Serum chemical analyses indicated hypocalcemia, high alkaline phosphatase activity, hypoalbuminemia, and hyperglobulinemia. At necropsy, the liver was stippled with gray-white focal lesions. Microscopically, the liver lesions were necrotic and inflammatory. Warthin-Starry-stained sections revealed rod-shaped bacteria in crisscrossing patterns characteristic of B piliformis. This dog was considerably older than dogs previously reported to have Tyzzer's disease and had a concurrent systemic hyphomycosis, suggesting it had been immunocompromised.