Dermatomycosis in three central bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) associated with Nannizziopsis chlamydospora

Abstract

Dermatomycosis associated with Nannizziopsis sp. is documented in lizards, terrestrial and aquatic snakes, and crocodiles. 6 Hyphomycete fungi of the family Nannizziopsiaceae isolated from bearded dragons include N. chlamydospora, N. draconii, N. barbata, N. guarroi, and N. vriesii. 1-7,9 Clinical signs include swellings, subcutaneous masses, and skin lesions. [1][2][3][4][5]9 Antifungal treatments were not always successful in resolving the skin lesions, or skin lesions recrudesce, resulting in the animals being euthanized and, at postmortem, systemic fungal infections were occasionally identified.2,4,5 Three central bearded dragons (syn. inland bearded dragon; Pogona vitticeps) from the same owner were privately held as companion animals. Two bearded dragons were male and 1 was female and all were 6 years of age. They were habituated in 2 terrariums (2.2 m 2 and 1.2 m 2 , photoperiod 10-12 h, ultraviolet source, temperature 23-40°C, cage substrate sand), fed insects twice a week, vegetables and fruit daily, and supplemented with a calcium and vitamin powder once a week. Males were housed separately, and alternately paired with the female bearded dragon. The 3 lizards were presented to the clinic because of chronic skin problems. One male bearded dragon (case 1) had crusty skin lesions on the lower mandible and a subcutaneous mass near the left shoulder; the second male bearded dragon (case 2) also had crusty, erosive, and ulcerative skin lesions on the lower mandible; and the female bearded dragon (case 3) had a subcutaneous mass near the left shoulder (Fig. 1). A routine fecal examination revealed Isospora amphiboluri and flagellates, resulting in the treatment of all 3 bearded dragons with toltrazuril (10 mg/kg orally) a and metronidazole (40 mg/kg orally) b twice within a 2-week interval. The subcutaneous masses were surgically excised in cases 1 and 3, and histological examination of the masses revealed necrotizing and granulomatous dermatitis and panniculitis associated with fungal hyphae. Case 1 was treated with itraconazole (5 mg/kg, orally every 48 h) c for 4 months and topical iodine solution, d and skin lesions improved; however, 6 months later, the skin lesions recurred. The condition of cases 1 and 2 deteriorated, and they were euthanized.Postmortem examination revealed granulomatous masses in liver, heart, and lungs in both cases. Case 1 additionally had granulomatous masses with intralesional fungal hyphae in kidneys, tongue, and intestine, as well as in the celomic serosa near the surgical scar at the left shoulder. Large numbers of fungal hyphae could also be seen inside blood vessels of numerous organs. Case 2 additionally had multifocal chronic deep granulomatous dermatitis with necrosis and ulceration 636422V DIXXX10.1177/1040638716636422Dermatomycosis in 3 bearded dragonsSchmidt-Ukaj et al. research-article2016Small Animal Internal Medicine, Department for Companion Animals and Horses (Schmidt-Ukaj), Institute of Microbiology (Loncaric, Spergser) and Institute of Pathology and Forensic V...

A survey of diseases in captive bearded dragons: a retrospective study of 529 patients

“…2014). This study also included one case of Devriesea agamarum und Chrysosporium guarroi in a bearded dragon with dysecdysis and chronic skin lesions (Schmidt-Ukaj et al 2014), and two bearded dragons from the same owner with dermatomycosis caused by Chrysosporium chlamydospora (Schmidt-Ukaj et al 2016). Heckers et al (2011) reported that chromatophoromas are frequently encountered in bearded dragons and one case of melanoma was also diagnosed in this present study.…”

“…(Bowman et al 2007;Abarca et al 2009;Hedley et al 2010;Van Waeyenberghe et al 2010;Johnson et al 2011;Sigler et al 2013;Stchigel et al 2013;Cabanes at al. 2014;SchmidtUkaj et al 2014;Schmidt-Ukaj et al 2016) cause deep skin lesions in bearded dragons. A retrospective study of 99 lizards showed that the most common dermatological disorders in lizards were dysecdysis, mites and stomatitis (White et al 2011).…”

Single-dose pharmacokinetics of orally administered terbinafine in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) and the antifungal susceptibility patterns of Nannizziopsis guarroi

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B earded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) are common companion lizards in the United States and are commonly infected with Nannizziopsis guarroi, the causative agent of yellow-fungus disease. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Nannizziopsis spp are a genus of keratinophilic fungi that cause cutaneous lesions in lizards ranging from mild scale discoloration and dysecdysis to severe, disfiguring, and ulcerative lesions leading to invasive mycosis and death. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Recent molecular characterization has led to several nomenclature changes; infection with this pathogen has been previously reported under the names Chrysosporium guarroi and Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii (CANV).

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“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Nannizziopsis spp are a genus of keratinophilic fungi that cause cutaneous lesions in lizards ranging from mild scale discoloration and dysecdysis to severe, disfiguring, and ulcerative lesions leading to invasive mycosis and death. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Recent molecular characterization has led to several nomenclature changes; infection with this pathogen has been previously reported under the names Chrysosporium guarroi and Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii (CANV). 3,[7][8][9] At this time, genetic sequencing suggests that most cases of CANV in companion reptiles are caused by N guarroi.…”

“…11 Despite clinical and microbiological evidence of resolved infections, the literature also supports a high rate of recurrence of latent infections following treatment with drugs in the azole class. 2,6,12 Clients and clinicians are understandingly dissatisfied with current treatment options for N guarroi given the expensive nature of azoles, their variable toxicity rates, and the high likelihood of infection recrudescence. There is a need to establish the susceptibility patterns of molecularly confirmed isolates of N guarroi and to investigate safer, more efficacious antifungals for treatment of this disease.…”