Rhinocerebral and rhinopharyngeal conidiobolomycosis in sheep/ Conidiobolomicose rinocerebral e rinofaringea em ovinos

• Published in: Ciência rural 2011-05, Vol.41 (5), p.862-868
• Main Authors: Camara, Antonio Carlos Lopes, Soto-Blanco, Benito, Batista, Jael Soares, do Vale, Andre Menezes, Feijo, Francisco Marlon Carneiro, Olinda, Roberio Gomes
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; spa
• Subjects: Analysis; conidiobolomicose; conidiobolomycosis; Conidiobolus coronatus; Dextrose; doenças micóticas; entomoftomicose; entomophthomycosis; Fibrin; fungal diseases; Glucose; ovino; sheep; sistema respiratório superior; upper respiratory system; Urea
• ISSN: 0103-8478; 1678-4596

The present study aimed to report the occurrence as well as the clinical, laboratorial, pathological and mycological findings of three outbreaks of rhinocerebral and rhinopharyngeal conidiobolomycosis in sheep from Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. A total of six sheep with clinical signs of conidiobolomycosis were evaluated, and information on history was obtained from ranchers. Clinical signs included depression, progressive emaciation, sero-sanguinolent nasal discharge, tachycardia, dyspnea, miosis and unilateral exophthalmia with increased ocular globe volume, corneal ulceration and nervous system signs. The main hematological alteration was neutrophilia. Serum biochemical evaluation revealed increased values for AST, GGT, creatinine, urea, and glucose, and decreased total proteins and albumin levels. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed the presence of fibrin reticules and pleocytosis. Upon necropsy, longitudinal sections of the head revealed the presence of a nodular mass with a friable consistency and a white-yellowish coloration. Microscopic findings included meningitis, cortex necrosis and encephalitis with the presence of eosinophilic Splendore-Hoeppli substance. Histopathology of the lungs revealed a Splendore-Hoeppli-like material and hyperplasia of alveolar and bronchiolar epithelium. Renal lesions were suggestive of amyloidosis. Key words: Conidiobolus coronatus, conidiobolomycosis, fungal diseases, upper respiratory system, entomophthomycosis, sheep. O presente estudo objetivou relatar a ocorrencia e os achados clinicos, laboratoriais, patologicos e micologicos de tres surtos de conidiobolomicose rinocerebral e rinofaringea em ovinos do estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Um total de seis ovinos com sinais clinicos de conidiobolomicose foi avaliado, e informacoes sobre o historico foram obtidas dos proprietarios. Os sinais clinicos incluiram depressao, emaciacao progressiva, descarga nasal serossanguinolenta, taquicardia, dispneia, miosite e exoftalmia unilateral com aumento do volume do globo ocular, ulceracao da cornea e sinais nervosos. A principal alteracao hematologica foi neutrofilia. A avaliacao bioquimica serica revelou aumento nos valores de AST, GGT, creatinina, ureia e glicose, e reducao nos niveis de proteinas totais e albumina. A analise do fluido cerebrospinal revelou presenca de reticulos de fibrina e pleocitose. A necropsia, seccoes longitudinais da cabeca revelaram presenca de uma massa nodular com consistencia friavel e