Equine zygomycosis caused by Conidiobolus lamprauges.
Abstract: A 15-year-old Arabian mare from southern Louisiana with a 2-month history of periodic epistaxis and severe weight loss had a large, fibrosing, granulomatous mass containing numerous nodules ("kunkers") projecting dorsally into the nasopharynx, and was euthanized at the owner's request. In addition to these kunkers, the mass contained a single trematode tentatively identified as Fasciola hepatica. Several kunkers were removed, washed thoroughly in sterile water and embedded in nutrient agars; the fungus that grew out of them was identified as Conidiobolus lamprauges Drechsler (Entomophthorales: Ancylistaceae). This is the first report of C. lamprauges from any vertebrate mycosis, and only the third Conidiobolus species reported from vertebrates. Unlike many other entomophthoraleans, the fungus isolated from this mycosis grew well at 37 degrees C. The possible means by which Conidiobolus species may infect vertebrates is discussed. These mycoses probably result most often from chronic exposure during sleep to conidia discharged from fungal growth on decaying plant material in the bedding.
Publication Date: 1989-03-01 PubMed ID: 2715329PubMed Central: PMC267365DOI: 10.1128/jcm.27.3.573-576.1989Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article presents the first case where the fungus Conidiobolus lamprauges was identified as the cause of a severe disease, equine zygomycosis, in a horse. The researchers also discuss the possible means of infection.
Case Details
- The case involves a 15-year-old Arabian mare in Southern Louisiana. The horse had been showing symptoms such as periodic nose bleeds (epistaxis) and severe weight loss for two months.
- The researchers identified a large mass in the horse’s nasopharynx area that was fibrosing and granulomatous (abnormal nodular tissue arising from inflammation) in nature. This mass contained several nodular structures (“kunkers”) and a single trematode, a type of parasitic worm tentatively identified as Fasciola hepatica.
- Upon the horse owner’s request, the animal was euthanized due to the severity of its conditions.
Fungus Identification
- Several kunkers were removed from the mass, thoroughly rinsed in sterile water, and then embedded in nutrient agars in order to cultivate the microorganisms present within them.
- The fungus that grew out of these experimental cultivations was identified as Conidiobolus lamprauges— a fungus that belongs to the entomophthoralean family of fungi. It’s worthwhile to note that unlike many members of this family, the strain isolated from the mare’s tissue grew well at the body temperature of mammals (37 degrees C).
- This is significant because it is the first report of C. lamprauges being identified in any vertebrate animal’s mycosis (fungal infections), and just the third time a Conidiobolus species has been reported from vertebrates.
Possible Mechanism of Infection
- The researchers propose a means by which Conidiobolus species may infect vertebrates. It is believed that these fungal infections may most often occur due to chronic exposure to conidia (the spores of fungi) that are discharged from decaying plant material present in the bedding of vertebrates, particularly when these animals are asleep. The release and inhalation of these conidia can potentially lead to infection.
Cite This Article
APA
Humber RA, Brown CC, Kornegay RW.
(1989).
Equine zygomycosis caused by Conidiobolus lamprauges.
J Clin Microbiol, 27(3), 573-576.
https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.27.3.573-576.1989 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Plant, Soil, and Nutrition Laboratory, Ithaca, New York 14853.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Fungi / growth & development
- Fungi / isolation & purification
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Mycoses / complications
- Mycoses / microbiology
- Mycoses / veterinary
- Nasopharynx / microbiology
- Temperature
- Trematoda / isolation & purification
- Trematode Infections / complications
- Trematode Infections / parasitology
- Trematode Infections / veterinary
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This article includes 18 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Rasche BL, Tucker SM, Linder K, Harrison TM, Negrão Watanabe TT. Case Report: Pulmonary Conidiobolomycosis in a Vietnamese Pot-Bellied Pig. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:799641.
- Carmo PMSD, Uzal FA, Pedroso PMO, Riet-Correa F. Conidiobolomycosis, cryptococcosis, and aspergillosis in sheep and goats: a review. J Vet Diagn Invest 2020 Nov;32(6):826-834.
- Vilela R, Mendoza L. Human Pathogenic Entomophthorales. Clin Microbiol Rev 2018 Oct;31(4).
- Tondolo JSM, Loreto ES, Jesus FPK, Dutra V, Nakazato L, Alves SH, Santurio JM. In Vitro Assessment of Antifungal Drugs and Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim against Clinical Isolates of Conidiobolus lamprauges. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2018 Apr;62(4).
- Mendoza L, Vilela R, Voelz K, Ibrahim AS, Voigt K, Lee SC. Human Fungal Pathogens of Mucorales and Entomophthorales. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2014 Nov 6;5(4).
- Gryganskyi AP, Humber RA, Smith ME, Hodge K, Huang B, Voigt K, Vilgalys R. Phylogenetic lineages in Entomophthoromycota. Persoonia 2013 Jun;30:94-105.
- Kimura M, Yaguchi T, Sutton DA, Fothergill AW, Thompson EH, Wickes BL. Disseminated human conidiobolomycosis due to Conidiobolus lamprauges. J Clin Microbiol 2011 Feb;49(2):752-6.
- Vilela R, Silva SM, Riet-Correa F, Dominguez E, Mendoza L. Morphologic and phylogenetic characterization of Conidiobolus lamprauges recovered from infected sheep. J Clin Microbiol 2010 Feb;48(2):427-32.
- Morris M, Ngeleka M, Adogwa AO, Lalla G, St-Germain G, Higgins R. Rhinocerebral zygomycosis in a sheep. Can Vet J 2001 Mar;42(3):227-8.
- Ribes JA, Vanover-Sams CL, Baker DJ. Zygomycetes in human disease. Clin Microbiol Rev 2000 Apr;13(2):236-301.
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