Systemic mycosis in Scottish red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Facial and systemic mucormycosis caused by Lichtheimia corymbifera in a goat: case report and literature review of fungal infections in goats

An 8-y-old Pygora doe was presented to the University of California-Davis, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital because of non-healing facial swelling of 2-wk duration. The lesion grew despite medical treatment, causing discomfort masticating, little-to-no airflow from the right nasal passage, and led to euthanasia. On gross examination, a large facial mass with a draining tract through the skin and hard palate was identified. On section, the mass was brown-pink, homogeneous, and friable. Abscess-like masses were identified in the lungs and kidney. Histopathology of the face, including oral and nasal cavities, salivary glands, and lymph nodes, as well as the lung and kidney lesions, revealed large areas of necrosis with numerous wide ribbon-like, mostly aseptate, fungal hyphae consistent with zygomycetes. PCR for fungal organisms performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from the face identified Lichtheimia corymbifera (formerly Absidia corymbifera) of the order Mucorales and an Aspergillus sp. The lesion was suspected to have started either as a fungal rhinitis or dental feed impaction, subsequently spreading to the face and systemically to the lungs and kidney. We describe here the lesions associated with facial mucormycosis in a goat and present a literature review of L. corymbifera infection in veterinary species and fungal infections in goats.

Mucormycoses caused by Lichtheimia species

Mucormycoses are life-threatening infections with fungi from the order Mucorales (Mucoromycotina). Although mucormycoses are uncommon compared to other fungal infections, e.g. aspergillosis and candidiasis, the number of cases is increasing especially in immunocompromised patients. Lichtheimia (formerly Absidia) species represent the second to third most common cause of mucormycoses in Europe. This mini review presents current knowledge about taxonomy and clinical relevance of Lichtheimia species. In addition, clinical presentation and risk factors will be discussed. Proper animal infection models are essential for the understanding of the pathogenesis and the identification of virulence factors of fungal pathogens. To date, several animal models have been used to study Lichtheimia infection. A brief overview of the different models and the main conclusions from the infection experiments is summarised in this review.

Gastric mucormycosis in a sika deer (Cervus nippon) associated with proliferation of Clostridium perfringens

Seven sika deer (Cervus nippon) died in a park where 30 deer were kept. One adult female deer died suddenly was necropsied. Severe hemorrhages were noted beneath the serous membranes of the forestomach and abomasum. Hyphal proliferation with neutrophil infiltration was observed in the mucous membranes of the stomaches, and the hyphae showed characteristics of order Mucorales. Catarrhal enteritis with hemorrhages was also observed. A large number of Clostridium perfringens was isolated from the contents of the abomasum and small intestine. The case was diagnosed as gastric mucormycosis associated with proliferation of Clostridium perfringens. The incidence occurred during breeding season and incorrect management was considered to be a predisposing factor for the infection.

Phycomycosis of the abomasum in Camelus dromedarius

Two cases of phycomycosis of the abomasum in dromedary camels are described. In one of the cases there is evidence of spread to the liver. The pathology and pathogenesis of the disease are discussed. We believe this is the first report of phycomycosis in Camelidae.

Mycosis in the stomach compartments of cattle

During a period of 22 months, 9.7% (23 out of 238) of the cattle necropsied at the Department of Veterinary Pathology had mycotic affections in the stomach compartments. The various stomach compartments were affected in the following pattern: omasum: 15 cases, rumen: 10 cases, reticulum: 8 cases and abomasum: 6 cases. In 5 of the animals mycotic affection was also found in other organs of which the liver was most often involved. Out of the 23 cases described, a primary diagnosis of mycosis was only established in 5 cases. In the remaining 18 cases the mycotic infection was regarded as being of a minor importance in the total necropsy result. Macroscopically and histologically the mycotic processes could be grouped into acute, subacute or chronic affections. In 20 cases only one type of inflammation was present, in the remaining cases combinations were found. Identification of the infective agent was performed by immunological staining of hyphal structures in tissue sections. Members of the Zygomycetes were found to predominate as causative fungi. Aspergillus fumigatus was found to have a propensity for infecting the terminal gastric compartments, whereas the Zygomycetes were found regularly in all compartments. Candida spp. were only found in 1 case. Predisposing factors for developing systemic mycosis are discussed. Among these especially the use of antimicrobial drugs, other diseases, metabolic disturbances and stressors in the post parturient period seem to be important.

Pulmonary mycosis in farmed deer: allergic zygomycosis and invasive aspergillosis

During 1988, pulmonary mycosis was diagnosed in four of 116 farmed deer examined on suspicion of tuberculosis. The histopathology showed allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis in a red deer (Cervus elaphus) and the agent was identified as a zygomycete, probably Absidia corymbifera, by immunofluorescence staining. Three fallow deer (Dama dama) had invasive necrotizing mycotic pneumonia and progressive exudative mycotic alveolitis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. In the red deer, weakness due to paratuberculosis had probably promoted the mycotic infection. The three fallow deer were bred on another farm, where predisposing factors included mouldy straw and incorrect management.