How is Blastomycosis diagnosed?
Blasto is usually diagnosed by testing specimens taken from the lungs, trach wash, chest x-ray, doing a biopsy of the skin, lymph nodes, or bone. The chest x-ray will show a snowstorm pattern when means that the fungus is growing as a budding yeast. Blood and urine tests also assist in diagnosis of Blasto by detecting breakdown products of the fungus, called Antigens. Ask your vet about he MiraVista Diagnostics Antigen test. A simple blood test will check for antibodies to Blasto as well.
