Disseminated Candidiasis and Candidemia Caused by <i>Candida palmioleophila</i> in a Green Sea Turtle (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>)
A sub-adult green sea turtle (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) was rescued and treated for carapace and plastron shell fractures. The turtle was kept dry-docked for the first 2 months with a placement of a long-term jugular central venous catheter (CVC). Pain management, aggressive antibiotic and...
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/12/3480 |
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| author | Wen-Lin Wang Pei-Lun Sun Chi-Fei Kao Wen-Ta Li I-Jiunn Cheng Pin-Huan Yu |
| author_facet | Wen-Lin Wang Pei-Lun Sun Chi-Fei Kao Wen-Ta Li I-Jiunn Cheng Pin-Huan Yu |
| author_sort | Wen-Lin Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A sub-adult green sea turtle (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) was rescued and treated for carapace and plastron shell fractures. The turtle was kept dry-docked for the first 2 months with a placement of a long-term jugular central venous catheter (CVC). Pain management, aggressive antibiotic and anthelmintic therapy, fluid therapy, force feeding, and wound debridement were provided to manage the shell fractures and control bacteremia. Human albumin was administered to treat severe hypoalbuminemia. On day 59, small budding yeasts were noted on the blood smears. Candidemia was confirmed by blood culture, as the yeasts were identified as <i>Candida palmioleophila</i> by the molecular multi-locus identification method. The CVC was removed, and the patient was treated with itraconazole. Although the carapace and plastron wounds had epithelized by 5.5 months after the rescue, the turtle died unexpectedly by 7.5 months. The postmortem examination revealed numerous necrogranulomas with intralesional yeasts, morphologically compatible with <i>Candida</i> spp., in joints, bones, brain, and lungs, suggestive of disseminated candidiasis. We describe a rare case of candidemia in the veterinary field. To our knowledge, this is the first report of candidiasis caused by <i>C. palmioleophila</i> in a reptile. The present results should improve veterinary medical care and, therefore, enhance the conservation of endangered sea turtle species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:39:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4f4727759e634c058408d122f20542ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:39:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-4f4727759e634c058408d122f20542ce2023-11-23T03:27:37ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-12-011112348010.3390/ani11123480Disseminated Candidiasis and Candidemia Caused by <i>Candida palmioleophila</i> in a Green Sea Turtle (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>)Wen-Lin Wang0Pei-Lun Sun1Chi-Fei Kao2Wen-Ta Li3I-Jiunn Cheng4Pin-Huan Yu5Institute of Veterinary Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, TaiwanCollege of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, TaiwanGraduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, TaiwanPangolin International Biomedical Consultant Ltd., Keelung 20145, TaiwanInstitute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, TaiwanInstitute of Veterinary Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, TaiwanA sub-adult green sea turtle (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) was rescued and treated for carapace and plastron shell fractures. The turtle was kept dry-docked for the first 2 months with a placement of a long-term jugular central venous catheter (CVC). Pain management, aggressive antibiotic and anthelmintic therapy, fluid therapy, force feeding, and wound debridement were provided to manage the shell fractures and control bacteremia. Human albumin was administered to treat severe hypoalbuminemia. On day 59, small budding yeasts were noted on the blood smears. Candidemia was confirmed by blood culture, as the yeasts were identified as <i>Candida palmioleophila</i> by the molecular multi-locus identification method. The CVC was removed, and the patient was treated with itraconazole. Although the carapace and plastron wounds had epithelized by 5.5 months after the rescue, the turtle died unexpectedly by 7.5 months. The postmortem examination revealed numerous necrogranulomas with intralesional yeasts, morphologically compatible with <i>Candida</i> spp., in joints, bones, brain, and lungs, suggestive of disseminated candidiasis. We describe a rare case of candidemia in the veterinary field. To our knowledge, this is the first report of candidiasis caused by <i>C. palmioleophila</i> in a reptile. The present results should improve veterinary medical care and, therefore, enhance the conservation of endangered sea turtle species.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/12/3480<i>Candida palmioleophila</i>candidemiacentral venous catheter<i>Chelonia mydas</i>disseminated candidiasisgreen sea turtle |
| spellingShingle | Wen-Lin Wang Pei-Lun Sun Chi-Fei Kao Wen-Ta Li I-Jiunn Cheng Pin-Huan Yu Disseminated Candidiasis and Candidemia Caused by <i>Candida palmioleophila</i> in a Green Sea Turtle (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) Animals <i>Candida palmioleophila</i> candidemia central venous catheter <i>Chelonia mydas</i> disseminated candidiasis green sea turtle |
| title | Disseminated Candidiasis and Candidemia Caused by <i>Candida palmioleophila</i> in a Green Sea Turtle (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) |
| title_full | Disseminated Candidiasis and Candidemia Caused by <i>Candida palmioleophila</i> in a Green Sea Turtle (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) |
| title_fullStr | Disseminated Candidiasis and Candidemia Caused by <i>Candida palmioleophila</i> in a Green Sea Turtle (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Disseminated Candidiasis and Candidemia Caused by <i>Candida palmioleophila</i> in a Green Sea Turtle (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) |
| title_short | Disseminated Candidiasis and Candidemia Caused by <i>Candida palmioleophila</i> in a Green Sea Turtle (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) |
| title_sort | disseminated candidiasis and candidemia caused by i candida palmioleophila i in a green sea turtle i chelonia mydas i |
| topic | <i>Candida palmioleophila</i> candidemia central venous catheter <i>Chelonia mydas</i> disseminated candidiasis green sea turtle |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/12/3480 |
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