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Home / Equine Research Bank / Med Mycol / Surveillance for Cryptococcus gattii in horses of Vancouver ...
Medical mycology2011; 49(7); 734-738; doi: 10.3109/13693786.2011.560196

Surveillance for Cryptococcus gattii in horses of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Abstract: 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 practitioners who were also encouraged to report clinical cases. Nasal colonization was identified in four of the 260 horses tested but none had a serum cryptococcal antigen titer. All positive horses were from the same geographic area near Duncan, BC. During the study period, a single horse was diagnosed with systemic cryptococcosis and euthanized; clinical and post mortem information is described. As this organism continues to disseminate in the Pacific Northwest it is important for veterinarians to be familiar with the disease as early diagnosis may enable more effective treatment.
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Publication Date: 2011-03-07 PubMed ID: 21375433DOI: 10.3109/13693786.2011.560196Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study aimed to identify and monitor the exposure or infection of horses in Vancouver Island to a fungal pathogen Cryptococcus gattii, identified in the southwestern region of British Columbia, Canada. The research carried out active surveillance on the area’s horse population, finding nasal colonization in four of the 260 horses tested, all concentrated in the same geographical area.

Methodology

  • The research spanned fall 2003 until summer 2004, focusing on horses residing within 10 km of known environmental reservoirs of this fungus—Cryptococcus gattii.
  • Nasal cultures and serum antigen testing were performed on these horses to find out if they had been exposed to or were infected with the organism.
  • Local equine practitioners were also invited to take part in surveillance efforts and were encouraged to report clinical cases.

Key Findings

  • Out of 260 horses tested, nasal colonization – indicating the presence of the organism in the horse’s nose – was identified in four horses. However, none of these horses showed a serum cryptococcal antigen titer, a diagnostic test that can determine the severity of an infection.
  • The horses tested positive were all hailing from the same geographic area near Duncan, BC indicating a localized spread of the fungus.
  • During the study period, one horse was diagnosed with systemic cryptococcosis, a severe form of the disease that affects the whole body, and had to be euthanized. Details of the clinical and post-mortem findings on this case were also included in the research.

Significance

  • The study emphasises the importance of ongoing surveillance in detecting Cryptococcus gattii in horses, especially given that the fungus seems to be spreading in the Pacific Northwest.
  • The results also underscore the significance of early detection and diagnosis, which might enable more effective treatment of the disease and prevent its systemic manifestation.
  • With the disease prevalent in both humans and animals, the study results are also highly relevant for public health.

Cite This Article

APA
Duncan C, Bartlett KH, Lester S, Bobsien B, Campbell J, Stephen C, Raverty S. (2011). Surveillance for Cryptococcus gattii in horses of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Med Mycol, 49(7), 734-738. https://doi.org/10.3109/13693786.2011.560196

Publication

Medical mycology
ISSN: 1460-2709
NlmUniqueID: 9815835
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 49
Issue: 7
Pages: 734-738

Researcher Affiliations

Duncan, Colleen
  • Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA. Colleen.duncan@colostate.edu
Bartlett, Karen H
    Lester, Sally
      Bobsien, Bettina
        Campbell, John
          Stephen, Craig
            Raverty, Stephen

              MeSH Terms

              • Animals
              • Antigens, Fungal / blood
              • British Columbia / epidemiology
              • Carrier State / epidemiology
              • Carrier State / microbiology
              • Carrier State / veterinary
              • Cross-Sectional Studies
              • Cryptococcosis / epidemiology
              • Cryptococcosis / microbiology
              • Cryptococcosis / pathology
              • Cryptococcosis / veterinary
              • Cryptococcus gattii / isolation & purification
              • Histocytochemistry
              • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
              • Horse Diseases / microbiology
              • Horse Diseases / pathology
              • Horses
              • Lung / pathology
              • Microscopy
              • Nasal Mucosa / microbiology

              Citations

              This article has been cited 6 times.
              1. Mohammed R, Nader SM, Hamza DA, Sabry MA. Horse: a potential source of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in Egypt.. BMC Vet Res 2022 Jan 4;18(1):17.
                doi: 10.1186/s12917-021-03127-xpubmed: 34983525google scholar: lookup
              2. Allano M, Grimes C, Boivin R, Smith G, Dumaresq J, Leclere M. Cryptococcus gattii pneumonia in an adult horse which had travelled in an endemic area.. Can Vet J 2019 Dec;60(12):1295-1300.
                pubmed: 31814635
              3. Brito-Santos F, Reis RS, Coelho RA, Almeida-Paes R, Pereira SA, Trilles L, Meyer W, Wanke B, Lazéra MDS, Gremião IDF. Cryptococcosis due to Cryptococcus gattii VGII in southeast Brazil: The One Health approach revealing a possible role for domestic cats.. Med Mycol Case Rep 2019 Jun;24:61-64.
                doi: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2019.04.004pubmed: 31061785google scholar: lookup
              4. Bartlett KH, Cheng PY, Duncan C, Galanis E, Hoang L, Kidd S, Lee MK, Lester S, MacDougall L, Mak S, Morshed M, Taylor M, Kronstad J. A decade of experience: Cryptococcus gattii in British Columbia.. Mycopathologia 2012 Jun;173(5-6):311-9.
                doi: 10.1007/s11046-011-9475-xpubmed: 21960040google scholar: lookup
              5. Byrnes EJ 3rd, Bartlett KH, Perfect JR, Heitman J. Cryptococcus gattii: an emerging fungal pathogen infecting humans and animals.. Microbes Infect 2011 Oct;13(11):895-907.
                doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2011.05.009pubmed: 21684347google scholar: lookup
              6. Byrnes EJ 3rd, Marr KA. The Outbreak of Cryptococcus gattii in Western North America: Epidemiology and Clinical Issues.. Curr Infect Dis Rep 2011 Jun;13(3):256-61.
                doi: 10.1007/s11908-011-0181-0pubmed: 21461678google scholar: lookup
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