Protothecosis and chlorellosis in sheep and goats: a review.

Protothecosis and chlorellosis are sporadic algal diseases that can affect small ruminants. In goats, protothecosis is primarily associated with lesions in the nose and should be included in the differential diagnosis of causes of rhinitis. In sheep, chlorellosis causes typical green granulomatous lesions in various organs. Outbreaks of chlorellosis have been reported in sheep consuming stagnant water, grass from sewage-contaminated areas, and pastures watered by irrigation canals or by effluents from poultry-processing plants. Prototheca and Chlorella are widespread in the environment, and environmental and climatic changes promoted by anthropogenic activities may have increased the frequency of diseases produced by them. The diagnosis of these diseases must be based on gross, microscopic, and ultrastructural lesions, coupled with detection of the agent by immunohistochemical-, molecular-, and/or culture-based methods.

Conidiobolomycosis, cryptococcosis, and aspergillosis in sheep and goats: a review.

We review herein infections by Conidiobolus spp., Cryptococcus spp., and Aspergillus spp. in sheep and goats. Conidiobolus spp. are common causes of rhinitis in sheep and are less frequent in goats, in which Conidiobolus spp. also cause skin lesions. Cryptococcus spp. cause rhinitis, meningitis, encephalitis, and pneumonia in goats, and are rarely observed in sheep. Aspergillus spp. may cause rhinitis in goats, and pneumonia and mastitis in sheep and goats. Gross and microscopic lesions caused by these 3 fungal infections may be similar to each other. The diagnosis of these diseases must be based on gross and microscopic lesions, coupled with detection of the agent by immunohistochemical, molecular, and/or culture-based methods.