Phycomycotic gastritis in buffalo calves (Bubalis bubalis).

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pathology
• Mycology
• Animal Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Mycotic gastritis is a significant gastrointestinal disease in young ruminants.
• Fungal infections can cause severe mucosal damage and systemic complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the pathological findings of mycotic gastritis in buffalo calves.
• To investigate the pathogenicity of isolated fungal agents.

Main Methods:

• Postmortem examination of six affected buffalo calves.
• Histopathological analysis of gastric mucosa.
• Intravenous and oral inoculation studies in rabbits and calves.

Main Results:

• Postmortem revealed raised ulcers with Rhizopus sp. hyphae in all six calves; Candida was also present in three.
• Histopathology showed severe mucosal congestion, hemorrhage, necrosis, and inflammatory cell infiltration.
• Rhizopus and Candida were pathogenic in rabbits via intravenous inoculation.

Conclusions:

• Rhizopus sp. is a primary cause of mycotic gastritis in young buffalo calves.
• Experimental oral inoculation failed to reproduce the disease, suggesting specific host or environmental factors.
• Fungal agents isolated from calves demonstrated pathogenicity in a rabbit model.