Disseminated Fungal Infection and Fungemia Caused by <i>Trichosporon asahii</i> in a Captive Plumed Basilisk (<i>Basiliscus plumifrons</i>)

<i>Trichosporon</i> spp. are heavily arthroconidiating fungi and widely distributed in nature. Due to the similar fungal morphology, confusion among <i>Trichosporon</i> spp., <i>Geotrichum</i> spp., and <i>Nannizziopsis</i> spp. in reptiles is apparent...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chieh Lo, Chu-Lin Kang, Pei-Lun Sun, Pin-Huan Yu, Wen-Ta Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-11-01
Series:Journal of Fungi
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/7/12/1003
Description
Summary:<i>Trichosporon</i> spp. are heavily arthroconidiating fungi and widely distributed in nature. Due to the similar fungal morphology, confusion among <i>Trichosporon</i> spp., <i>Geotrichum</i> spp., and <i>Nannizziopsis</i> spp. in reptiles is apparent and cannot be overlooked. Although few reptile <i>Trichosporon</i> isolates have been examined using the newer speciation criteria, the information on <i>Trichosporon asahii</i> in reptiles is still scarce. In the present study, we report the case of disseminated fungal infection and fungemia caused by <i>T. asahii</i> in a captive plumed basilisk (<i>Basiliscus plumifrons</i>). Multiple 0.2–0.5 cm, irregularly shaped, ulcerative nodules on the left hind foot were observed. The animal died due to the non-responsiveness to treatment. A microscopic evaluation revealed the fungal infection that primarily affected the left hind foot and right lung lobe with fungal embolisms in the lung and liver. The molecular identification of the fungal species by the DNA sequences of the ITS regions and D1/D2 gene from the fungal culture and ITS regions, from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) lung tissues, were completely matched to those of <i>T. asahii</i>. The current report describes the first confirmed case of disseminated fungal infection and fungemia caused by <i>T. asahii</i> in a captive plumed basilisk.
ISSN:2309-608X