Acremoniumkeratomycosis in a cat

Abstract

A 14-year-old, female spayed Domestic Short-haired cat was presented for evaluation of progressive superficial corneal ulceration with mucoid ocular discharge, blepharospasm, and conjunctival hyperemia OD. Upon examination, ulcerative keratitis with stromal loss, chemosis, corneal edema, miosis, aqueous flare, and hyphema were noted. Corneal cytology revealed branching, septate fungal hyphae with bulbous terminations and associated ovoid structures, with suppurative inflammation. Fungal culture of corneal swabs confirmed the presence of Acremonium, although PCR of the cytology sample was negative. Ten days of treatment with topical 1% miconazole resulted in clinical deterioration before switching to topical 1% voriconazole solution, which was successful in resolving the infection. The apparent clinical efficacy of the topical antifungals used contrasted with the in vitro susceptibility profile.

Acremonium and trichosporon fungal keratoconjunctivitis in a Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius)

“…In general, fungal organisms cannot invade the corneal stroma through an intact corneal epithelium, and thus, fungal keratitis is mostly an opportunistic infection . Risk factors for fungal keratitis include tear film deficiencies, dysbiosis of the ocular surface from use of topical antibiotics and/or steroids, presence of fungal organisms on the ocular surface, penetrating corneal trauma, pre‐existing corneal disease, and systemic disease . Chronic dysecdysis, a common cause of ocular surface disease in geckos and snakes, was the likely inciting cause of fungal keratoconjunctivitis in the present case.…”

“…Acremonium sp. has been shown to be most sensitive to topical treatment with amphotericin B and voriconazole . A case of Trichosporon sp.…”

Systemic Acremonium species infection in a dog

“…Acremonium spp. rarely exist as opportunistic pathogens in mammals (30) e. g. as part of the resident ocular surface (3,7,31). They are known to colonize skin, upper respiratory tract mucosa and sinuses in cats, dogs, horses and cattle (3,7,31).…”

“…rarely exist as opportunistic pathogens in mammals (30) e. g. as part of the resident ocular surface (3,7,31). They are known to colonize skin, upper respiratory tract mucosa and sinuses in cats, dogs, horses and cattle (3,7,31). Although these filamentous fungi are common environmental saprophytes, existing in soil, plant debris or air (14), clinical infections occur mostly secondary to prior colonization in individuals with increased host susceptibility (1,18).…”

“…In veterinary medicine, only few cases of clinical disease associated with Acremonium spp. have been reported: systemic infections in two dogs (10,33), fungal keratokonjunctivitis in a dog (22), keratitis in a cat (3), fungal pneumonia in a horse (30), abor-tion in a cow (6), and a case of fescue toxicosis in a horse (4). In these veterinary reports, A. killiense was detected twice (6,22), A. strictum in one case (30), and A. hyalinum in another case (10).…”