Conidiobolomycosis in sheep in Brazil

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Mycology
• Sheep Pathology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Conidiobolomycosis is a fungal infection affecting animals.
• Northeastern Brazil, particularly the semiarid region of Piauí, has reported cases in sheep.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document and characterize conidiobolomycosis in sheep from Piauí, Brazil.
• To investigate the clinical, pathological, and etiological aspects of the disease.

Main Methods:

• Clinical and necropsy examinations of affected sheep.
• Histopathological analysis of tissue samples.
• Isolation and identification of the causative fungus.
• Electron microscopy for ultrastructural analysis.

Main Results:

• Affected sheep exhibited depression, weight loss, nasal discharge, and facial asymmetry with exophthalmos.
• Necropsy revealed friable masses in the nasal cavity, ethmoturbinate destruction, and invasion of sinuses, orbits, and brain.
• Lesions disseminated to lungs, brain, lymph nodes, kidneys, gallbladder, and heart.
• Histopathology showed granulomatous inflammation with Splendore-Hoeppli material surrounding fungal hyphae.
• Conidiobolus coronatus was isolated from six sheep.
• Microscopic and electron microscopy confirmed fungal hyphae consistent with Conidiobolomycosis.

Conclusions:

• Conidiobolomycosis is an important and potentially devastating disease in sheep in Piauí and other regions of northeastern Brazil.
• The study highlights the severe pathological manifestations and dissemination patterns of the infection.
• Conidiobolus coronatus is confirmed as the etiological agent in this sheep population.