2015 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

Cyniclomyces was identified in 265 canine cytology reports generated by Antech over the study interval. Sixty four percent (n = 170) of these samples were fecal/rectal cytologies. Among dogs with Cg identified by fecal or rectal cytology, there was a significant positive association between the abundance of Cg and presence of WBCs (P = 0.037). A total of 188 dog fecal/rectal cytologies without Cg reported were identified for use as controls (no yeast present, n = 116; other enteric yeast present, n = 72). The control dogs were 3 times more likely to have concurrent bacterial dysbiosis (95% CI, 2.066-5.236, p < 0.0001) than were dogs with Cg. Dogs with Cg were 2.4 times (95% CI, 1.140-5.088, P = 0.021) more likely to have WBCs and 3.6 times (95% CI, 1.471-8.998, P = 0.003) more likely to have inflammation present in the fecal or rectal cytology compared to control dogs with other enteric yeast identified. No significant association was observed between the presence of Cg in fecal/rectal cytology and patient sex, age, breed, season, or region. In 94% (n = 160) of the canine fecal/rectal cytology reports in which Cg was identified, clinical pathologists opined on the pathogenicity of Cg. Expressed opinions were that Cg was nonpathogenic (81%) or was of uncertain pathogenicity (13%). Of 23 clinical pathologists that completed multiple reports, equivocation among their reports was common (43%) but did not correlate with abundance of Cg present.