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Rhodotorula minuta fungemia in a ewe lamb
C G Chitko-McKown1, K A Leymaster, M P Heaton
1USDA-ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, USA.
Abstract:
An 8-month-old crossbred ewe, normal upon physical examination, was humanely euthanized for tissue collection. After approximately 3 weeks in tissue culture, fungi began budding out of cells obtained from the choroid plexus. After an additional 3 weeks, budding was observed in kidney cell cultures and eventually in monocyte cultures as well. Serum from the lamb was submitted to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Colorado State University for fungal diagnosis and was found negative for Aspergillus, Blastomyces, Coccidioidomycosis and Histoplasmosis. DNA was isolated from fungi collected from tissue culture supernatants and used in a set of pan-fungal PCR assays with DNA from Candida acting as a positive control. PCR products were sequenced and BLAST analysis performed. The unknown fungal sequence aligned with 100% identity to Rhodotorula minuta an emerging opportunistic pathogen. Samples were submitted to The Fungal Testing Laboratory at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio for additional validation. We believe this to be the first report of Rhodotorula fungemia in a sheep in the United States.
Insights
A sheep developed a fungal infection, Rhodotorula minuta, identified through tissue culture and DNA sequencing. This marks the first reported case of Rhodotorula fungemia in a U.S. sheep.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Ovine Health
Background:
- Fungal infections in livestock can impact animal health and agricultural productivity.
- Accurate identification of fungal pathogens is crucial for effective treatment and disease control.
- Rhodotorula species are increasingly recognized as opportunistic pathogens in various hosts.
Observation:
- Fungal budding was observed in choroid plexus, kidney, and monocyte cell cultures derived from an 8-month-old ewe.
- Initial diagnostic tests for common fungal pathogens in the ewe's serum were negative.
- DNA sequencing and BLAST analysis identified the causative agent as Rhodotorula minuta.
Findings:
- The study reports the first documented case of Rhodotorula fungemia in a sheep in the United States.
- Rhodotorula minuta, an emerging opportunistic pathogen, was identified in multiple tissue cultures.
- Confirmatory testing was performed at a specialized mycology laboratory.
Implications:
- This finding highlights the potential for Rhodotorula minuta to cause fungemia in sheep.
- Increased awareness and diagnostic vigilance for Rhodotorula species in ovine infections are warranted.
- Further research into the pathogenesis and treatment of Rhodotorula fungemia in sheep may be necessary.
