Unfortunately our understanding of cyanobacteria-associated dermatologic illnesses from exposure to freshwater is lacking with most acute dermatitis studies focusing on marine cyanobacteria such as the Hawaii epidemic.Ī 2006 review of anecdotal and case reports and epidemiological studies of recreational and occupational exposure to freshwater cyanobacteria found that the true incidence of acute cyanobacteria-associated illness is unknown, likely due to under-recognition and under-diagnosis by healthcare providers ( 10). Nevertheless, it would take more than a decade before the exact toxin, debromoaplysiatoxin, was isolated and identified ( 16). majuscula positively identified exposure to this cyanobacterium as the inciting cause ( 15). Exposure to Lyngbya majuscula was suspected and studies using purified extracts from L. However, cyanobacterial dermatotoxins were not widely recognized until the late 1950s when an epidemic of acute contact dermatitis was reported in bathers along the beaches of Oahu, Hawaii ( 14). Dermatotoxins produced by cyanobacteria have been linked to outbreaks of skin irritation and include aplysiatoxins, debromoaplysiatoxins, and lyngbyatoxins. coli and skin-related symptoms ( 13) and not cyanobacteria. Although skin irritation after exposure to recreational waters is routinely mentioned as a health risk, a majority of effort has been focused on the association between total coliform, fecal coliform, and E. In contrast, documentation of the irritant and allergenic effects of cyanotoxins is limited with most reports referring to studies in laboratory animals ( 7, 8) or epidemiological studies in humans ( 9– 12). Most reports document exposure to hepatotoxic microcystins ( 1– 4) and neurotoxic anatoxin-a ( 5, 6). In addition, more prudent oversight of contaminated recreational waters is recommended for animals and humans to prevent adverse events and intoxications.Ĭyanobacteria poisoning in dogs is not a new phenomenon. Veterinarians should recognize the potential harm that contaminated waters may cause in terms of dermal, hepatic, and neurological conditions. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case report of debromoaplysiatoxin exposure in a dog after swimming in cyanobacteria-contaminated water. Access to the lake was discontinued and follow-up evaluation over the next few weeks revealed a complete resolution of the skin irritation. Water from the lake was submitted for toxicology testing and revealed the presence of debromoaplysiatoxin. Assessment of the dog’s environment revealed access to a lake on the property with visible algal bloom. Improvement of the urticaria and the dog’s clinical status was noted over the next 45 min. Due to the severity and progression of urticaria, the dog received IV dexamethasone and IM diphenhydramine. Initial basic dermatology work-up excluded parasitic, fungal, and bacterial organisms. Marked excoriation and erythema were noted over the chest and neck, while urticaria was noted in the inguinal regions and ventral abdomen. A 5-year-old female spayed 34 kg Bracco Italiano was initially presented for rapid onset of severe pruritus and urticaria. Although cases of acute hepato- and neurotoxicoses in dogs following cyanotoxin exposure exist, no reports of skin-related reactions in dogs exist. Contamination of recreational waters with cyanobacterial toxins continues to increase and presents a risk to animals and humans.
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