A. Fumigatus pulmonary aspergillosis in breeding donkeys

Ref ID: 19420

Author:

F. Agnetti,1 S. Crotti,1 P. Papa,1 A. Circolo,2 E. Lepri,3
V. Stefanetti,4 L. Pitzurra2 and F. Passamonti4

Author address:

1Experimental Zooprophilactic Institute, Perugia, Italy; 2Institute
of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Perugia, Italy;
3Department of Biopathological Science and Hygiene for Food
and Animal Productions, Perugia, Italy and 4Departmen

Full conference title:

6th Trends in Medical Mycology 2013

Date: 11 October 2014

Abstract:

Objectives In veterinary as in human medicine, Aspergillus spp. is
often responsible for invasive fungal infections. In particular, Aspergillus
fumigatus is the most common cause of pulmonary fungal infec-
tion (Hilton et al., 2009; Garcia-Vidal et al., 2013). Episodes of
mortality caused by pulmonary aspergillosis are rarely observed in
equine clinic (Carrasco et al., 1997; Johnson et al., 1999; Sweeney et
al., 1999). Here we describe an outbreak of pulmonary aspergillosis
by A. fumigatus in donkeys of an Umbrian farm (Central Italy).
Methods Five 21- to 45-day old Asinara donkeys, died without any
apparent specific respiratory symptom. Depression was reported as
the only clinical sign. Necropsy revealed the presence of whitish pul-
monary nodules. Lung samples were therefore collected for bacterio-
logical, virological, histological and mycological exams. For the
mycological analysis, lung biopsies were seeded on Sabouraud Dex-
trose Agar (SDA) plates prior to a 25, 37 or50°C incubation. Colo-
nies were macro- and microscopically identified and their
susceptibility to antimycotics was tested.
Results Multifocal to coalescing whitish nodules (up to 3-4 cm in
diameter) with a necrotic core and a peripheral hyperemic halo were
observed in the basal lobes of both lungs. Lymph nodes were
enlarged. Bacteriological and virological analysis results were nega-
tive. Histological observation revealed coagulative necrosis with a
rim of degenerated neutrophils and multiple fungal hyphae embedded
in the necrotic material. On SDA, velvety-powdery colonies, white at
first then turning to greenish or grey developed after 4-5 days at
25°C or 48 hours at 37 and 50°C. The reverse side of the colonies
was white to tan. Light microscopy examination revealed short
(<300 lm) and smooth conidiophores harboring uniseriate phialides, often located only on the upper two-third of the vesicle, parallel to the conidiophore axis. These macro- and microscopic morphology features and the heat tolerance (growth at 50 °C) of the fungus allow us to identify it as A. fumigatus (Larone, 2002). In vitro susceptibility to antimycotics showed a pattern identical to that of A. fumigatus of human origin, except for a higher sensitivity to itraconazole. Conclusions A. fumigatus is today the most prevalent airborne fun- gal pathogen causing severe and usually fatal invasive infections in immunocompromised hosts. Despite the dramatic increase in the inci- dence of human invasive aspergillosis, the pathogenesis of A. fumigatus infection is still poorly understood (Latg e, 2001) and little is known on its pathogenic behavior in animals (Thierry et al., 2013). Furthermore the determinants for virulence identified so far in A. fumigatus are not unique to this species. In the scope of development of therapeutical strategies, it would be important to identify the patho- logical determinants and mechanisms specific of A. fumigatus, which make it a more opportunistic pathogen than other commonly encountered environmental molds.

Abstract Number: p189

Conference Year: 2013

Link to conference website: NULL

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