A review of mycotic nasal granuloma in cattle, with a report on three cases

Three cases of nasal mycotic granuloma containing fungal cells and hyphae in cattle are described. In 2 animals a mucopurulent or purulent nasal discharge was seen clinically, and epistaxis in the third. Histologically, ulceration of the nasal mucosa and a severe granulomatous inflammation of the nasal submucosa with eosinophils as the predominant cell type were evident in the cattle. Non-pigmented fungal cells identified as chlamydospores and short septate hyphae were demonstrated in giant cells and extracellularly within the granulomatous reactions. In one case, the fungal elements were frequently surrounded by homogeneous eosinophilic (Splendore-Hoeppli) material. Dematiaceous fungi, Bipolaris sp. and Drechslera sp., were isolated from 2 cases. Mycology was not performed on the third animal.