A 7-year-old, female snow goose (Anser caerulescens hyperboreus) with history of decreased activity for 2 month died in Daejeon Zoo Land in September 2006. At necropsy, granulomatous pneumonia and hepatomegaly with multiple cysts were observed. Small masses were found in the spleen. Microscopically, fibrinous pneumonia distributed in most of the lung lobe with pulmonary edema and congestion. Especially, granulomatous inflammation with numerous multinucleated giant cells was observed around the dilated bronchi.

Systemic aspergillosis were outbroken of 17 Korean native calves at livestock farm in Kyunggi province. Two 3 months old calves were died after having diarrhea, coughing, dyspnea, nasal discharge, and abdominal breathing. These calves were diagnosed of aspergillosis as multifocal to coalescing pyogranulomatous inflammation with intralesional aspergillus infiltration at liver, kidney, spleen, heart, lymph nodes, lungs, intestine and cerebrum. Aspergillus fumigatus was cultured from the affected tissues. And the small intestine was positive against bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus on FA test. We considered that the secondary fungal infections killed the calves after BVD virus infection primarily.

The effect of fungi on the growth of body organs in mice was investigated. Single, intraperitoneal injections of yeasts (Cryptococcus albidus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces octosporus) or molds (Aspergillus niger, Geotrichum candidum, Mucor haemalis) induced an increase in the mass of seminal vesicles and coagulating glands independent of whole body weight changes in mice.

Candidiasis is a mycosis caused by the mycelial yeast of the Candida genus which is opportunistic pathogen of humans, animals, and birds. Under some conditions such as prolonged antibiotic therapy, overcrowding, and immunosuppression, the opportunistic Candida can cause disease. Chicken candidiasis is sporadically occurred and characterized by unsatisfactory growth, listlessness, roughness of feathers, and death. A case of 23 weeks old layer with history of increased mortality and anemia was submitted to our Lab. At necropsy, the characteristic lesions were observed in the crop and proventriculus. The whitish pseudomembrane, that are peeled easily, was found in the crop. Proventriculus was swollen and the mucosa was covered with hemorrhagic exudate. The histological changes of the affected crop are epithelial hyperplasia, hydropic degeneration, and mycelia formation. Smears made from the necrotic mucosal surfaces of the crop revealed the presence of large number of yeast cells and mycelia. Pure cultures of yeast colonies were obtained from the potato dextrose agar. The yeast cells were identified as Candida albicans by gene sequencing. To our knowledge, this is the first report of candidiasis in chickens with anemia in Korea.

Objective-To determine whether a novel third-generation chelating agent (8mM disodium EDTA dehydrate and 20mM 2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1, 3-propanediol) would act as an antimicrobial potentiator to enhance in vitro activity of antifungal medications against fungal isolates obtained from horses with mycotic keratitis. Sample Population-Fungal isolates (3 Aspergillus isolates, 5 Fusarium isolates, 1 Penicillium isolate, 1 Cladosporium isolate, and 1 Curvularia isolate) obtained from horses with mycotic keratitis and 2 quality-control strains obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC; Candida albicans ATCC 90028 and Paecilomyces variotii ATCC 36257). Procedure-Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against fungal isolates for 4 antifungal drugs (miconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, and natamycin) were compared with MICs against fungal isolates for the combinations of each of the 4 antifungal drugs and the chelating agent. The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute microdilution assay method was performed by use of reference-grade antifungal powders against the fungal isolates and quality-control strains of fungi. Results-Values for the MIC at which the antifungal drugs decreased the growth of an organism by 50% (MIC50) and 90% (MIC90) were decreased for the control strains and ophthalmic fungal isolates by 50% to 100% when the drugs were used in combination with the chelating agent at a concentration of up to 540 microgram/mL. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The chelating agent increased in vitro activity of antifungal drugs against common fungal pathogens isolated from eyes of horses with mycotic keratitis.

Effects of the endophyte Acremonium coenophialum in tall fescue on pregnant mares and foal viability were evaluated. Twenty-two mature pregnant mares were randomly chosen to graze either Kentucky-31 tall fescue that was free from A coenophialum (endophyte-free, EF) or tall fescue infected with A coenophialum (endophyte-present, EP) after the first 90 days of pregnancy through parturition. Concentrations of pyrrolizidine and ergopeptine alkaloids were significantly greater in EP grass, compared with EF pasture. Ten of 11 mares grazing EP pasture had obvious dystocia. Mean duration of gestation was significantly greater for the EP group, compared with the EF group. Foal survivability was severely reduced among mares grazing Ep fescue with only 1 foal surviving the natal period. Udder development and lactation were low in mares grazing EP grass. The absence of clinical problems in mares grazing EF grass implicated the endophyte as the causative agent of reproductive problems and perinatal foal mortality in pregnant mares grazing endophyte-infected fescue grass. Caution should be exercised in allowing pregnant mares to graze pastures infected with the endophyte A coenophialum.

Microorganisms from normal eyes of hospitalized and stabled horses were identified, and the frequency of isolation was compared between the 2 groups. Using standard techniques, swab specimens from both eyes of 22 hospitalized horses and both eyes of 18 stabled horses were cultured for aerobic bacteria and fungi. Ninety-six aerobic bacteria and 57 fungi were isolated. The predominant bacterial isolates were gram-positive organisms, most of which belonged to the genera Corynebacterium, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and Streptomyces. Gram-negative organisms comprised less than one-fourth of the bacterial isolates, with the genera Neisseria, Moraxella, and Acinetobacter being the most commonly isolated. Environmental fungi Cladosporium and Alternaria accounted for half of all fungal isolates. In only 5 horses were fungi isolated without accompanying isolation of bacteria. The frequency of isolation of fungi was higher (P less than 0.01) in stabled horses. For bacteria, the frequency of isolation was higher (P less than 0.08) in male horses. Results of susceptibility testing were recorded as the percentage of all isolates were highly susceptible to a given antimicrobic drug. Bacterial isolates were highly susceptible (greater than or equal to 90%) to neomycin, polymixin B, gentamicin, and chloramphenicol. Overall, filamentous fungi had highest susceptibility to natamycin (97%). Miconazole was highly efficacious (100% susceptibility) against Fusarium and Aspergillus.

Investigation of connection of experimental trichophytosis and relations between changes of clinical implications of disease and dimensions of some immunological indexes was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. At the first stage of the experiment there analyzed 48 guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) infected with Trichopyton verrucosum. Phagocytic ability of phagocytes and level of circulating antibodies in indirect hemagglutination test were investigated each 5 days before and during disease. The second stage was realized by the example of 2,5-6 months old calves. In course of study there were analyzed blood and blood serum indexes, indexes of nonspecific resistance, as well as some indexes of cell-mediated immune response and antibody mediated immunity. Comparative analysis the following morphological and biochemical blood indexes of clinically healthy calves, calves after trichophytosis, and calves sick with mild, moderate and severe of disease were presented: erythrocytes; hemoglobin; leukocytes; basophils; eosinophiles; rods; microxyphils; lymphocytes; monocytes; ESR; total albumin; albumins; alpha globulins; beta globulins; gamma globulins; carotene; calcium; inorganic phosphorous; alkaline reserve; copper. The realized experiment made it possible to conclude that determination intensity of leukocyte absorption of microconidia of the agent, antibodies against the agent, and specific for cytoplasm fungus, morphological and biochemical blood indexes made it possible to control the development of inflammatory phenomenon in centers of infection, as well as to predict the formation of face, infiltrative and suppurant disease forms