Candida glabrata septicemia in a piglet

Background: Candida organisms are ubiquitous pathogens that may cause mucosal or systemic infection in humans and animals. Candida albicans was the main Candida specie associated with cases of systemic candidosis, and Candida glabrata is the second most isolated in those cases. In animals there are few reports of candidosis. In pigs C. albicans was described as mucocutaneous disease affecting oral mucosa, esophagus and aglandular stomach of pigs affected by porcine circovirus type 2. Systemic invasion by Candida species in pigs is rare. This report describes the pathological changes observed in a case of systemic candidosis due to C. glabrata infection in a piglet. Case: In a nursery facility with 500 piglets a 47-days-old piglet showed lateral recumbency that progressed to inabilit to stand, paddling and death. In the necropsy it was observed valvular vegetative endocarditis in the left atrio-ventricular valve and in the kidneys multifocal to coalescing whitish foci in the sub-capsular and in the cut surface. Microscopical examination of the cerebral cortex, brain steam and cerebellum revealed multifocal random necrotic suppurative focci surrounded by mononuclear cells, epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells together with discret linfoplasmocitic meningitis. In the kidneys there was embolic suppurative nephritis with multifocal abscesses in renal parenchyma, characterized by large amount of neutrophils surrounded by mononuclear cells. In the left valve surface of the hearth there was extensive proliferation of connective tissue with large amount of fibrin, neutrophils and intralesional Gram-positive bacterial colonies with coccoid shape morphology. In brain, hearth and kidneys slides stained with Grocott's methenamine silver and periodic acid-Schiff technique a large amount of yeasts cells round to ovoid in shape were observed associated with necrotic foci and in multinucleated giants cells. Discussion: In the present report, a 47-days-old weaned piglet showed neurological signs that suggested a Streptococcus suis meningitis, and a presumptive diagnostic was reached based on those signs. Antibiotic therapy with amoxicillin was attempted, but there was no improvement in the clinical signs and the piglet died. S. suis was not isolated in the bacteriological analysis, however, PCR technique allowed the detection of the pathogen from the heart, raising the possibility for a role of the agent in the endocardial lesion, but not in the brain. Candida glabrata was detected in the hearth, kidneys and brain suggesting a septicemic spread candidosis in the piglet. Due to the presence of C. glabrata in the piogranulomatous lesions observed in the brain we assumed that the neurological signs were associated with the candidal infection. In humans, it is described the association among intracardiac candidal infection and an increased risk for the development of central nervous system infection. A recent study in slaughter pigs have shown that brain lesions associated with bacterial valvular endocarditis are common. Immunosuppression, low birth weight and broad spectrum antibiotic therapy are among the predisposing factor to the development of septicemic candidosis. In our case report, the piglet was the lighter in the litter at weaning and in the day of necropsy, besides antibiotic therapy was attempted twice in the piglet what could act as another predisposing factor for the septicemic candidosis. This was an unusual case of systemic candidosis with brain involvement and neurological clinical signs associated, due to C. glabrata infection in a piglet.

Candida glabrata Septicemia in a Piglet / Candida glabrata Septicemia in a Piglet

Background: Candida organisms are ubiquitous pathogens that may cause mucosal or systemic infection in humans and animals. Candida albicans was the main Candida specie associated with cases of systemic candidosis, and Candida glabrata is the second most isolated in those cases. In animals there are few reports of candidosis. In pigs C. albicans was described as mucocutaneous disease affecting oral mucosa, esophagus and aglandular stomach of pigs affected by porcine circovirus type 2. Systemic invasion by Candida species in pigs is rare. This report describes the pathological changes observed in a case of systemic candidosis due to C. glabrata infection in a piglet. Case: In a nursery facility with 500 piglets a 47-days-old piglet showed lateral recumbency that progressed to inability to stand, paddling and death. In the necropsy it was observed valvular vegetative endocarditis in the left atrio-ventricular valve and in the kidneys multifocal to coalescing whitish foci in the sub-capsular and in the cut surface. Microscopical examination of the cerebral cortex, brain steam and cerebellum revealed multifocal random necrotic suppurative focci surrounded by mononuclear cells, epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells together with discret linfoplasmocitic meningitis. In the kidneys there was embolic suppurative nephritis with multifocal abscesses in renal parenchyma, characterized

Background: Candida organisms are ubiquitous pathogens that may cause mucosal or systemic infection in humans and animals. Candida albicans was the main Candida specie associated with cases of systemic candidosis, and Candida glabrata is the second most isolated in those cases. In animals there are few reports of candidosis. In pigs C. albicans was described as mucocutaneous disease affecting oral mucosa, esophagus and aglandular stomach of pigs affected by porcine circovirus type 2. Systemic invasion by Candida species in pigs is rare. This report describes the pathological changes observed in a case of systemic candidosis due to C. glabrata infection in a piglet. Case: In a nursery facility with 500 piglets a 47-days-old piglet showed lateral recumbency that progressed to inability to stand, paddling and death. In the necropsy it was observed valvular vegetative endocarditis in the left atrio-ventricular valve and in the kidneys multifocal to coalescing whitish foci in the sub-capsular and in the cut surface. Microscopical examination of the cerebral cortex, brain steam and cerebellum revealed multifocal random necrotic suppurative focci surrounded by mononuclear cells, epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells together with discret linfoplasmocitic meningitis. In the kidneys there was embolic suppurative nephritis with multifocal abscesses in renal parenchyma, characterized

Candida glabrata Septicemia in a Piglet / Candida glabrata Septicemia in a Piglet

Background: Candida organisms are ubiquitous pathogens that may cause mucosal or systemic infection in humans and animals. Candida albicans was the main Candida specie associated with cases of systemic candidosis, and Candida glabrata is the second most isolated in those cases. In animals there are few reports of candidosis. In pigs C. albicans was described as mucocutaneous disease affecting oral mucosa, esophagus and aglandular stomach of pigs affected by porcine circovirus type 2. Systemic invasion by Candida species in pigs is rare. This report describes the pathological changes observed in a case of systemic candidosis due to C. glabrata infection in a piglet. Case: In a nursery facility with 500 piglets a 47-days-old piglet showed lateral recumbency that progressed to inability to stand, paddling and death. In the necropsy it was observed valvular vegetative endocarditis in the left atrio-ventricular valve and in the kidneys multifocal to coalescing whitish foci in the sub-capsular and in the cut surface. Microscopical examination of the cerebral cortex, brain steam and cerebellum revealed multifocal random necrotic suppurative focci surrounded by mononuclear cells, epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells together with discret linfoplasmocitic meningitis. In the kidneys there was embolic suppurative nephritis with multifocal abscesses in renal parenchyma, characterized

Background: Candida organisms are ubiquitous pathogens that may cause mucosal or systemic infection in humans and animals. Candida albicans was the main Candida specie associated with cases of systemic candidosis, and Candida glabrata is the second most isolated in those cases. In animals there are few reports of candidosis. In pigs C. albicans was described as mucocutaneous disease affecting oral mucosa, esophagus and aglandular stomach of pigs affected by porcine circovirus type 2. Systemic invasion by Candida species in pigs is rare. This report describes the pathological changes observed in a case of systemic candidosis due to C. glabrata infection in a piglet. Case: In a nursery facility with 500 piglets a 47-days-old piglet showed lateral recumbency that progressed to inability to stand, paddling and death. In the necropsy it was observed valvular vegetative endocarditis in the left atrio-ventricular valve and in the kidneys multifocal to coalescing whitish foci in the sub-capsular and in the cut surface. Microscopical examination of the cerebral cortex, brain steam and cerebellum revealed multifocal random necrotic suppurative focci surrounded by mononuclear cells, epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells together with discret linfoplasmocitic meningitis. In the kidneys there was embolic suppurative nephritis with multifocal abscesses in renal parenchyma, characterized