Conidiobolomycosis in ovine in Southeast Bahia - Brazil

ABSTRACT

Background: Conidiobolomycosis is a highly lethal, granulomatous disease that primarily affects the respiratory systemof sheep. The etiological agents are fungi of the genus Conidiobolus, including Conidiobolus coronatus, C. incongruus,and C. lamprageus. In Northeast Brazil, this disease is particularly important considering the significant impact sheepand goats have on the regional economy. The present report describes the occurrence of conidiobolomycosis in two sheepfrom the same property in the Itabuna-BA region that were referred to the Veterinary Hospital of the State University ofSanta Cruz, Bahia, Brazil.Case The primary complaint in both animals was bilateral bloody nasal discharge over a period of approximately 15 daysand frequent coughing. On physical examination, the animals exhibited “goosebumps” and opaque hair, with a body scoreof 1 (scale, 1-5), mild dehydration (7%), apathy, frequent cough with putrid odor, bilateral serosanguinolent nasal discharge,craniofacial asymmetry, expiratory dyspnea, enlargement of the retropharyngeal lymph nodes, audible pulmonary rales,and pain on percussion of the pulmonary field. A therapeutic support protocol was established to stabilize the animals untilthe results of complete blood count, radiography, and microbiological evaluation of nasal content were available. Definitive diagnosis of disease was made by direct positive mycological examination, that revealed the presence of wide rarelyseptate hyphae, and isolation and cultivation of the fungus Conidiobolus sp., with microculture on slides and staining withlactophenol blue cotton. Due to disease diagnosis and the severity of injuries observed, the prognoses of both animals wereconsidered to be unfavorable and led to euthanasia and necropsy. At necropsy, the most...(AU)