The gross and microscopic pathology of a fungal septicaemia caused by the zygomycete, Mucor amphibiorum in 27 free-ranging cane toads, Bufo marinus, in Australia is described. Seven of the 27 toads had clinical signs of illness when discovered and five of these seven were moribund. Multiple granulomas were found in many organs, and in massive infections granulomas tended to coalesce. Liver, spleen, kidneys, urinary bladder, heart and lung were most commonly involved, but granulomas also occurred in subcutaneous lymph spaces, skin, gastrointestinal tract, voluntary muscle, bone, cranial cavity and the oral cavity. Single lesions appeared grossly as a lemon coloured nodule ≤5 mm in diameter. Histologically, the primary lesion was a granuloma composed of multinucleate giant cells, macrophages, occasional lymphocytes and eosinophils surrounding the distinctive sphaerules of M. amphibiorum. Fibroblasts occurred in greater numbers at the periphery and collagen formed a dense fibrous capsule around some nodules. A less common lesion resembled a microabscess and consisted of mononuclear cells, neutrophils and eosinophils surrounded by macrophages. Many of the centrally placed mixed inflammatory cells appeared necrotic. This reaction appeared to be more acute. Both types of lesions sometimes occurred concurrently, but the latter was less common. The pattern of lesions and natural history of M. amphibiorum suggested that ingestion of contaminated soil may have been the route of infection.
PATHOLOGY|
January 01 1997
PATHOLOGY OF MUCORMYCOSIS OF CANE TOADS IN AUSTRALIA
R. Speare;
R. Speare
1 Department of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia 4811
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L. Berger;
L. Berger
1 Department of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia 4811
2 CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia 3220
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P. O'Shea;
P. O'Shea
3 Department of Biomedical and Tropical Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia 4811
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P. W. Ladds;
P. W. Ladds
3 Department of Biomedical and Tropical Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia 4811
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A. D. Thomas
A. D. Thomas
4 Oonoonba Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Primary Industries, Oonoonba, Townsville, Queensland, Australia 4811
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J Wildl Dis (1997) 33 (1): 105–111.
Article history
Received:
May 13 1996
Citation
R. Speare, L. Berger, P. O'Shea, P. W. Ladds, A. D. Thomas; PATHOLOGY OF MUCORMYCOSIS OF CANE TOADS IN AUSTRALIA. J Wildl Dis 1 January 1997; 33 (1): 105–111. doi: https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-33.1.105
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