Pulmonary sarcocystosis in a puppy with canine distemper in Costa Rica

Canine distemper and pulmonary sarcocystosis were diagnosed in a 10-week-old Rottweiler with 4-day history of diarrhea, vomiting, and weakness. Microscopic examination of the lung revealed bronchointerstitial pneumonia typical of morbillivirus infection. Also, numerous apicomplexan parasites were scattered in the alveolar walls. This protozoan infection was first thought to be toxoplasmosis but immunoperoxidase staining revealed large numbers of Sarcocystis canis. This is the first case of canine sarcocystosis reported from Latin America that further emphasizes the importance of immunohistochemistry in the differential diagnoses of apicomplexan infections in dogs.