A 2-yr-old female African side-neck turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa) housed at a pet store in Illinois, USA presented for evaluation of nasal discharge and an ulcerative skin lesion. Molecular diagnostics for Mycoplasma spp., herpesviruses and frog virus 3 (ranavirus) were negative and cytologic evaluation of the ulceration showed non-septic inflammation without fungal elements. A presumptive diagnosis of a bacterial upper respiratory infection was treated with ceftazidime (20 mg/kg SC every 72 hrs) and husbandry improvements were recommended. One month later, the turtle re-presented and physical examination revealed diffuse skin sloughing and severe dehydration, and the animal was euthanized. Necropsy and histopathology revealed multiple fungal granulomas throughout the liver, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs. Heavy growth of a white powdery fungal organism was obtained from culture. Four gene targets (D1/D2 domains of the 28S ribosomal DNA, 18S-28S ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region, actin and β-tubulin) were sequenced from the fungal isolate and each was >98% identical to Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree constructed from concatenated D1/D2, ITS, actin, and β-tubulin sequences from Nannizziopsis spp. placed the new fungal isolate in a highly supported (99% bootstrap support) monophyletic group with two N. arthrosporioides isolates. This case report describes the first known N. arthrosporioides infection in an aquatic turtle species and adds to the growing literature surrounding N. arthrosporioides infections in non-squamate reptilian patients.
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Research Article|
August 02 2023
Systemic Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides in an African Side-neck Turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa): Case report
Kennymac Durante;
Kennymac Durante
UNITED STATES
Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, University of Illinois- College of Veterinary Medicine, 2001 S. Lincoln Ave, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
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Julie D. Sheldon;
Julie D. Sheldon
UNITED STATES
Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, University of Illinois- College of Veterinary Medicine, 2001 S. Lincoln Ave, Urbana, IL 61802, USA. Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterina
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Laura Adamovicz;
Laura Adamovicz
UNITED STATES
Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, University of Illinois- College of Veterinary Medicine, 2001 S. Lincoln Ave, Urbana, IL 61802, USA. Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory, University of Illinois- College of Veterinary Medicine, 2001 S. Lincoln Ave, Urbana, IL
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Patrick J. Roady;
Patrick J. Roady
UNITED STATES
Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory, University of Illinois- College of Veterinary Medicine, 2001 S. Lincoln Ave, Urbana, IL 61802, USA, Dr. Sheldon’s current address: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Tennessee-College of Veterinar
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Krista A Keller
Krista A Keller
University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
Assistant Professor
1008 West Hazelwood Drive
UNITED STATES
Urbana
IL
61802
4043455694
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Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery (2023)
Article history
Received:
June 20 2022
Revision Received:
March 12 2023
Revision Received:
May 30 2023
Accepted:
June 10 2023
Citation
Kennymac Durante, Julie D. Sheldon, Laura Adamovicz, Patrick J. Roady, Krista A Keller; Systemic Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides in an African Side-neck Turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa): Case report. Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery 2023; doi: https://doi.org/10.5818/JHMS-D-22-00023
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