Aspergillus Section Fumigati Pneumonia and Oxalate Nephrosis in a Foal.
Abstract: Equine pulmonary aspergillosis is a rare deep mycosis often due to the hematogenous spread of hyphae after gastrointestinal tract disease. We describe herein the main clinic-pathological findings observed in a foal, which spontaneously died after showing diarrhea and respiratory distress. Necropsy and histopathological investigations allowed to diagnose pulmonary aspergillosis, which likely developed after necrotic typhlitis-colitis. Biomolecular studies identified section strain as the causative agent. Notably, severe oxalate nephrosis was concurrently observed. Occasionally, oxalate nephropathy can be a sequela of pulmonary aspergillosis in humans. The present case report suggests that the renal precipitation of oxalates can occur also in horses affected by pulmonary aspergillosis and could likely contribute to the fatal outcome of the disease.
Publication Date: 2021-08-26 PubMed ID: 34578120PubMed Central: PMC8471827DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091087Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Case Reports
Summary
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The research article discusses a case of pneumonia and kidney disease in a foal caused by a rare fungal infection, Aspergillus Fumigati, it further explores a possible relationship between pulmonary aspergillosis and oxalate nephrosis in horses.
Research Motivation and Case Discussion
- The researchers were motivated to understand more about the mechanisms of Aspergillosis, a rare fungal infection in horses, and its potential association with oxalate nephrosis, a type of kidney disease. They investigated the case of a foal who died following symptoms of diarrhea and respiratory distress.
- Oxalate nephropathy, which was observed in the foal, is occasionally a complication of pulmonary aspergillosis in humans. This led the researchers to postulate that a similar relationship may exist in horses, contributing to the fatal outcome of the disease.
Necropsy and Histopathological Investigations
- A necropsy was performed Following the foal’s death, and histopathological investigations were carried out in order to identify the cause of the symptoms and terminal condition.
- The necropsy and histopathological studies led to the diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis, a rare kind of fungus that causes disease in the lungs, which was likely developed after necrotic typhlitis-colitis, a severe inflammation of the large intestine.
Biomolecular Studies
- In addition to the morphological analysis, biomolecular studies were performed to identify the causative agent of pulmonary aspergillosis. The research identified the Aspergillus Fumigati strain as being responsible for the condition in the foal.
- The researchers found that the foal was not only suffering from pulmonary aspergillosis, but also from severe oxalate nephrosis, a kidney disease caused by the deposition of oxalate crystals in the kidneys.
Suggested Outcomes and Conclusions
- The researchers concluded that the renal precipitation of oxalates observed can also occur in horses affected by pulmonary aspergillosis. It is suggested that this combination could significantly contribute to the fatal outcome of the disease.
- This research calls for further investigation into the relationship between pulmonary aspergillosis and oxalate nephrosis in horses, in order to provide better understandings and potentially improve treatment outcomes in both vetinery and human medical fields.
Cite This Article
APA
(2021).
Aspergillus Section Fumigati Pneumonia and Oxalate Nephrosis in a Foal.
Pathogens, 10(9), 1087.
https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10091087 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interests.
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Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- de Jong JE, Heuvelink AE, Dieste Pérez L, Holstege MMC. Aspergillus spp., aspergillosis and azole usage in animal species in Europe: Results from a multisectoral survey and review of recent literature. Med Mycol 2025 Jan 25;63(2).
- Melo UP, Ferreira C, Barreto SWM. Pulmonary aspergillosis in a horse: a case report. Braz J Vet Med 2024;46:e004723.
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