Clinical management of Candida albicans keratomycosis in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Abstract

Subconjunctival injections were employed over 52 days, followed by topical drops for 5 months. At last evaluation, there was no evidence of blepharospasm bilaterally. Only a faint superficial gray corneal opacity remained OS. A temporal paraxial corneal opacity was present OD, with receding inactive vascularization and a small amount of melanosis temporally.

Cetacea

“…Scarring is a common consequence and visual deficits can result. Corneal opacities that progress to keratomycosis caused by Candida albicans have been described in bottlenose dolphins (Simeone et al, 2017).…”

Candida spp. in Cetaceans: Neglected Emerging Challenges in Marine Ecosystems

“…In cetaceans, Candida species hold substantial importance, as they have been associated with a range of clinical manifestations and diseases. These infections, particularly those caused by Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis, among others, can result in serious health implications, including respiratory tract infections, skin lesions, and systemic fungal dissemination [ 11 , 12 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ]. Its presence also indicates the potential for opportunistic infections, especially in individuals with immunosuppression or those subjected to stressful conditions such as captivity or environmental changes [ 4 , 48 ].…”

“…Recently, there have been increasing reports of various conditions associated with Candida species across different taxa, mainly as isolated case reports or case series. C. albicans caused bilateral keratomycosis after possible corneal trauma in a captive bottlenose dolphin [ 45 ], which was susceptible to both fluconazole and itraconazole. The azole intrinsically resistant species Pichia kudriavzevii, formerly Candida krusei, was also reported as the cause of chronic intestinal candidiasis resulting in intestinal torsion and death in an aged captive Pacific white-sided dolphin [ 42 ].…”