Retrospective Analysis of Aetiological Agents Associated with Pulmonary Mycosis Secondary to Enteric Salmonellosis in Six Horses by Panfungal Polymerase Chain Reaction.
Abstract: Pulmonary mycosis secondary to enterocolitis is an uncommon diagnosis in equine medicine, but is thought to result from mucosal compromise and translocation of enteric fungi. The aetiological agent associated with translocation is often identified based on fungal culture or hyphal features in histological sections. In order to understand better the aetiological agents involved, six horses diagnosed with Salmonella enteritis and concurrent pulmonary mycosis were identified retrospectively through a database search of veterinary teaching hospital records. Samples from these cases were subjected to polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS-2) located between the 5.8S and 28S rRNA genes to identify the aetiological agent involved. Sequencing identified Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium spp., Cladosporium spp. and Curvularia spp. A single case had a dual infection with Fusarium spp. and A. fumigatus.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2019-11-26 PubMed ID: 31955794PubMed Central: PMC8212182DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2019.10.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigates the causes behind pulmonary mycosis, a rare fungal disease in horses that often follows gut infections by Salmonella bacteria. The study made use of modern genetic testing techniques and found that a variety of different fungal species were responsible for the disease in a sample group of six horses.
Background of the Study
- The study acknowledges pulmonary mycosis – a fungal infection of the lungs – to be a rare occurrence in horses. However, when it does occur, it is usually secondary to an infection by Salmonella bacteria.
- The belief is that this cascade effect results from the initial bacterial attack compromising the gut lining, allowing fungal cells from the gut microbiota to cross into the bloodstream and migrate to the lungs.
- The primary aim of this research was to identify the species of fungi responsible for causing pulmonary mycosis in horses. It used samples from six horses previously diagnosed with both Salmonella enteritis (a gut infection) and pulmonary mycosis.
Methodology
- The study relied on a veterinary hospital database to identify relevant cases retrospectively.
- In order to find out the causative fungal species, the research team used genetic testing methods. They extracted DNA from the samples and amplified a specific region (the ITS-2 region) located between two other significant sequences (the 5.8S and 28S rRNA genes) for further analysis.
- The amplified ITS-2 regions were then sequenced, allowing the researchers to match them with known fungal sequences and thus identify the species.
Results and Findings
- The sequencing results revealed that different horses had mycosis caused by different fungal species. These included Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium spp., Cladosporium spp. and Curvularia spp.
- In one particular case, two different fungal species — Fusarium spp. and A. fumigatus — were found, indicating a dual infection.
- The variety of fungal species identified in this study suggest a diverse range of fungal species within the gut microbiota of horses that may translocate and cause disease following an initial Salmonella infection.
Cite This Article
APA
Hensel M, Meason-Smith C, Plumlee QD, Myers AN, Coleman MC, Lawhon S, Rodrigues Hoffmann A, Rech RR.
(2019).
Retrospective Analysis of Aetiological Agents Associated with Pulmonary Mycosis Secondary to Enteric Salmonellosis in Six Horses by Panfungal Polymerase Chain Reaction.
J Comp Pathol, 174, 1-7.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpa.2019.10.002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
- Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
- Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
- Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
- Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
- Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
- Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
- Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA. Electronic address: rrech@cvm.tamu.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Enterocolitis / complications
- Enterocolitis / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Mycoses / microbiology
- Mycoses / veterinary
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Respiratory Tract Infections / microbiology
- Respiratory Tract Infections / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Salmonella Infections, Animal / complications
Grant Funding
- T32 OD011083 / NIH HHS
Conflict of Interest Statement
Conflict of Interest. The authors declare no conflicts of interest with respect to the publication of this manuscript.
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