Phaeohyphomycoses in a FreeRanging Loggerhead Tur

Authors: Isabela Guarnier Domiciano Camila Domit Cariane Campos Trigo Brígida K de Alcântara Selwyn A Headley Ana Paula F R L Bracarense

Publish Date: 2014/06/20

Volume: 178, Issue: 1-2, Pages: 123-128

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Abstract

This report describes the occurrence of mycotic infection in a loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta found on Mostardas beach in the state of Rio Grande do Sul Southern Brazil The specimen was observed alive emaciated and died the following day A necropsy was performed soon after death and tissue samples routinely processed for histopathological and molecular evaluation Significant pathological alterations included multifocal to coalescing 05–4 cm in diameter nodules were observed throughout the peritoneum and kidneys that revealed caseous grayish content when sectioned histopathological evaluation revealed severe peritonitis and nephritis associated with intralesional fungi Fungal PCR that targeted the internal transcribed spacer region of fungi revealed three different species of fungi Cladosporium cladosporioides and Alternata arborescens within the kidneys while Ampelomyces sp was identified within peritoneal granulomas C cladosporioides and A arborescens are melanized fungi that produce phaeohyphomycosis in a wide range of species However the importance of the identification of the mycoparasite Ampelomyces sp DNA within the peritoneal granulomas remains unclear

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