Molecular Characterization of Ovine Zygomycosis in Central Western Brazil

Abstract

Abstract. Zygomycosis is an important granulomatous disease that affects humans and animals, particularly sheep in tropical regions. Rhinofacial and nasopharyngeal zygomycosis were described in sheep in association with Conidiobolus spp. The present study characterized 5 samples of Conidiobolus isolated from 3 herds with clinical disease in Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The clinical and pathological findings were similar to nasopharyngeal zygomycosis. Based on morphological features, isolates were classified as Conidiobolus spp., and molecular phylogenetic analyses based on 18S ribosomal DNA grouped all isolates in a Conidiobolus lamprauges cluster. The current report describes the molecular characterization of ovine nasopharyngeal zygomycosis associated with C. lamprauges.

Epidemiological, clinical and diagnostic aspects of sheep conidiobolomycosis in Brazil

“…Conidiobolomycosis cases were described in tropical regions such as: Africa, South America, Central America, and Asia (CHAYAKULKEEREE et al, 2006;EL-SHABRAWI et al, 2014). In Brazil, the disease is considered endemic in flocks of the Northeast and Midwest regions, being reported in ovine in the states of Piauí (SILVA et al, 2007a,b), Paraíba (RIET-CORREA et al, 2008), Pernambuco (MENDONÇA et al, 2012), and Mato Grosso (BOABAID et al, 2008;DE PAULA et al, 2010).…”

“…In Brazil, the disease is considered endemic in flocks of the Northeast and Midwest regions, being reported in ovine in the states of Piauí (SILVA et al, 2007a,b), Paraíba (RIET-CORREA et al, 2008), Pernambuco (MENDONÇA et al, 2012), and Mato Grosso (BOABAID et al, 2008;DE PAULA et al, 2010). Sporadic cases were also reported in ovine in the Southern region, in the states of Santa Catarina (FURLAN et al, 2010) and Rio Grande do Sul (PEDROSO et al, 2009).…”

“…The majority of Conidiobolus are non-pathogenic saprobes or opportunistic pathogens of arthropods and occur worldwide, but Conidiobolus coronatus, Conidiobolus incongruus and Conidiobolus lamprauges are the most frequent etiological agents of the conidiobolomycosis. Their pathogenic strains occur mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, in areas of high humidity, particularly in Africa (EL-SHABRAWI et al, 2014); however, cases have been reported worldwide (Table 1), including Brazil (Table 2).…”

“…However, this agent has medical importance (EL-SHABRAWI et al, 2014) and it was reported in ovine in Australia (KETTERER et al, 1992;CARRIGAN et al, 1992) and in dogs in United States of America (MACKEY et al, 2015).…”

“…The main mode of infection involves inhalation, ingestion and dermal exposure to conidia of these fungi (DE PAULA et al, 2010). The most common route of infection is by inhalation of conidia present in the grazing (HUMBER et al, 1989).…”