Topic:Cryptococcosis
Cryptococcosis is a fungal infection caused by Cryptococcus species, primarily affecting the respiratory system in horses. This condition can lead to a range of clinical symptoms, including nasal discharge, coughing, and neurological signs if the central nervous system is involved. The fungus is typically found in the environment, particularly in soil contaminated with bird droppings, and can be inhaled by horses, leading to infection. Diagnosis often involves clinical examination, imaging, and laboratory tests such as culture or serology. Treatment usually includes antifungal medications, and the prognosis can vary depending on the severity and location of the infection. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment options for cryptococcosis in equine populations.
Presence and distribution of yeasts in the reproductive tract in healthy female horses. Yeasts are commensal organisms found in the reproductive and gastrointestinal tracts, and on the skin and other mucosa in mammals. Objective: The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify yeast flora in the caudal reproductive tract in healthy female horses. Methods: Longitudinal study. Methods: A total of 453 samples were collected using double-guarded swabs from the vestibule, clitoral fossa and vagina in 151 horses. All samples were cultured on Sabouraud 4% dextrose agar and incubated at 35°C for 7-10 days. Isolates were identified according to their morphological characteristics a...
Surveillance for Cryptococcus gattii in horses of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. In the last decade Cryptococcus gattii has emerged as an important human and animal pathogen in southwestern British Columbia (BC), Canada. When the disease initially emerged it was identified in humans and multiple animal species on the east coast of Vancouver Island. From fall 2003 until summer 2004, active surveillance was initiated to look for horses exposed to or infected with the organism by performing nasal cultures and serum antigen testing in horses residing within 10 km of known areas of environmental reservoirs of the fungus. Surveillance efforts were facilitated by local equine pra...
Cryptococcosis in domestic animals in Western Australia: a retrospective study from 1995-2006. A retrospective study of cryptococcosis in domestic animals residing in Western Australia was conducted over an 11-year-period (from 1995 to 2006) by searching the data base of Murdoch University Veterinary Teaching hospital and the largest private clinical pathology laboratory in Perth. Cryptococcosis was identified in 155 animals: 72 cats, 57 dogs, 20 horses, three alpacas, two ferrets and a sheep. There was no seasonal trend apparent from the dates of diagnosis. Taking into account the commonness of accessions to Murdoch University, cats were five to six times more likely to develop this di...
Successful treatment of a sinonasal cryptococcal granuloma in a horse. A 12-year-old 500-kg (1,100-lb) American Quarter Horse mare was evaluated because of chronic mucopurulent, bloody discharge from the left nostril, inspiratory dyspnea, and respiratory noise. Results: The horse had severe inspiratory dyspnea and stertorous respiration with no airflow from the left nostril. A temporary tracheostomy was performed. Endoscopy revealed a tan mass protruding from the left middle nasal meatus into the left common nasal meatus; it extended caudally into the nasopharynx and around the caudal edge of the nasal septum into the right nasal cavity. Radiographically, a soft ...
Successful treatment of cryptococcal pneumonia in a pony mare. A 20-year-old Welsh Mountain Pony (212 kg) mare was initially presented for a chronic cough, fever, weight loss and low grade abdominal pain. She later developed dyspnoea, tachypnoea and exercise intolerance. The presence of multiple masses (up to 17 cm diameter) in the pulmonary parenchyma was established using lateral thoracic radiography and transthoracic ultrasonography. Encapsulated, budding yeasts were observed in smears made from transtracheal washings and needle aspirates of the pulmonary lesions. Cryptococcus gattii (synonym: Cryptococcus neoformans variety gattii; Cryptococcus bacill...
[Mycoses in domestic animals]. In the present paper we will present a general view of the main mycoses affecting domestic animals. In the dog, we show the importance of the dermatophytoses, increased by its zoonosic character and the problem of the false negatives in the traditional microbiological culture. Under the general term of systemic mycoses we include a series of conditions considered usually as aspergillosis, bat with more and more fungal species implicated as possible etiological agents. In addition, fungi, especially yeasts, are being implicated in canine otitis; in our laboratory 86 % of canine chronic otitis i...
Cryptococcosis in seven horses. The clinical, radiographic and post-mortem findings in 6 horses with cryptococcal pneumonia and one horse with an abdominal cryptococcal granuloma are described. In pulmonary cryptococcosis, the lesions were either diffuse and multiple, with bilateral lung involvement, or localised mainly to the dorsocaudal region of one lung. The cases of diffuse multiple cryptococcosis were thought to be associated with haematogenous spread of the fungus after gastrointestinal infection and dissemination from regional lymph nodes. The localised form of the disease was thought to have been associated with inh...