Disseminated cryptococcosis including osteomyelitis in a horse

Abstract

A 4-year-old Arab mare was diagnosed with disseminated cryptococcosis, including osteomyelitis of the proximal phalanx of the left hind limb, osteomyelitis with associated soft tissue granuloma of a rib and disseminated, large cryptococcal nodules in the lungs. The lesion in the dorsoproximal aspect of the proximal phalanx had a large area of cortical lysis with spiculated periosteal new bone and extensive soft tissue swelling. The affected rib had a pathological fracture. Cryptococcal osteomyelitis has not been previously reported in horses but should be considered as a differential diagnosis, particularly in endemic regions.

Cryptococcosis in domestic animals in Western Australia: a retrospective study from 1995–2006

“…However, deforming rhinitis has also been reported [23,25Á27]. In horses with cryptococcosis, as in humans, the infection can spread from the lower respiratory tract, with the development of meningitis [28Á31], osteomyelitis [32] and abdominal disease [22,26]. There is very little data available regarding cryptococcosis in South American camelids [11,33Á35], but it appears these may be infected by a mechanism similar to horses and goats.…”

Bovine cryptococcal meningoencephalitis

“…9 Cryptococcosis of the skin is reported in a donkey. 6 In goats, cryptococcosis may cause mastitis, 18 pulmonary infection and meningoencephalitis 1 ; in cattle, mastitis 11 and pulmonary infections 5 ; in sheep, mastitis 16 and rhinitis 17 ; and in water buffalo, 12 the only form of cryptococcosis reported is mastitis.…”

Obstrução nasal por granuloma fúngico em eqüino: relato de caso

“…Apesar de a criptococose ter distribuição mundial e acometer pessoas e animais, ela é incomum em eqüinos (Lenard et al, 2007). Acredita-se que a infecção por Criptococcus neoformans em cavalos seja secundária a lesões decorrentes da passagem de sonda nasogástrica, infecções virais ou bacterianas do trato respiratório superior, ou seqüela da hemorragia pulmonar induzida por exercício (Begg et al, 2004).…”

“…O tratamento das afecções fúngicas no trato respiratório superior geralmente é difícil e de prognóstico reservado, pois freqüentemente é prolongado, e os agentes antifúngicos são caros (Lenard et al, 2007), além de serem, em sua maioria, tóxicos (Chandna et al, 1992). Anfoterecina B, miconazol, natamicina, flucitosina e cetoconazol podem ser eficientes no tratamento de rinite fúngica.…”