Eumycetoma and disseminated phaeohyphomycosis in a Sumatran tiger

Abstract

A 16-y-old female Sumatran tiger ( Panthera tigris sumatrae) was evaluated for hyporexia. Examination revealed chronic kidney disease and a large subcutaneous axillary mass with draining tracts that contained numerous small black grains. Histologic examination revealed the presence of intralesional fungal hyphae. Persistent hyporexia and pyogranulomatous disease, as well as progressive cachexia and azotemia occurred despite treatment, and euthanasia was performed. Disseminated phaeohyphomycosis was diagnosed on postmortem examination, additionally affecting various lymph nodes, the nasal cavity, mesenteric adipose tissue, abdominal aorta, pericardium, and kidney. Fungal culture from a deep-tissue sample isolated a pure growth of Curvularia sp., a dematiaceous opportunistic fungus able to cause eumycetomas and/or phaeohyphomycosis. Phaeohyphomycosis is a rare but emerging condition, not previously reported as disseminated disease in an exotic carnivore, to our knowledge. Aggressive systemic antifungal treatment was unsuccessful, likely complicated by diagnostic challenges and concurrent renal disease. The presence of a swelling with abundant grains exiting draining tracts should direct clinicians to the diagnosis of a mycetoma, warranting early and aggressive treatment.

Eumycetoma Caused by Madurella pseudomycetomatis in a Captive Tiger (Panthera tigris)

“…For this reason, the evaluation of the efficacy of the therapy and possible systemic dissemination as the cause of death were not ascertainable. Although not frequent, visceral involvement causing a worsening of clinical condition can occur, as previously reported in a Sumatran tiger, and this can also be hypothesized for the case herein described [13].…”

“…The therapy included intravenous amphotericin B lipid complex in combination with oral administration of itraconazole. No clinical improvement was observed, and subsequent euthanasia was performed [13].…”

“…from a cerebral lesion in a lion, [12] and Curvalaria spp. in disseminated cutaneous and visceral lesions in a Sumatran tiger [13].…”

“…In the literature, there are numerous case reports of cutaneous and visceral infections caused by dematiaceous fungi in cats, while in wild captive-kept felids only a few have been reported [5,6,[10][11][12][13].…”