Abstract
Pathogenic Chrysosporium-related fungi (PCRF) have manifested themselves in recent decades as the serious causative agents of mycoses in captive and free-living reptiles. The anamorphic (asexual) genus Chrysosporium Corda comprises a number of species including Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii (CANV), which is considered as a main fungal pathogen in reptiles in many countries of the world. Due to increased popularity of exotic reptiles as pets, these infections have become widespread around the world in recent decades. Taxonomy and nomenclature of Chrysosporium-related fungi have been revised radically. The present chapter puts together the recent advances in classification, physiology, etiological significance, epidemiology, and occurrence of PCRF-induced mycoses in different species of reptiles. Mycoses in mammals including humans associated with PCRF are also colligated together with our published and unpublished experiences in clinical and laboratory diagnosis, antifungal susceptibility, therapy, and prevention of reptile mycoses caused by Chrysosporium-related fungi. The data demonstrate that PCRF-associated mycoses are important aspects of veterinary mycology and herpetology and thus should be explored further.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Casadevall A (2005) Fungal virulence, vertebrate endothermy, and dinosaur extinction: is there a connection? Fung Gen Biol 42:98–106
Mitchell M, Walden M (2013) Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii. An emerging fungal pathogen of captive and wild reptiles.Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 16(3):659–668
Allender M, Dreslik M, Wylie S et al (2011) Chrysosporium sp. infection in eastern massasauga rattlesnakes. Emerg Infect Dis 17(21):2383–2384
Cabanes F, Sutton D, Guarro J (2014) Chrysosporium-related fungi and reptiles: a fatal attraction. PLoS Pathog 10(10):e1004367
Schildger B, Frank H, Gobel T et al (1991) Mycotic infections of the integument and inner organs in reptiles. Herpetopathologia 2:81–97
Paré J, Sigler L, Hunter D et al (1997) Cutaneous mycoses in chameleons caused by the Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii (Apinis) Currah. J Zoo Wildl Med 28:443–453
Thomas A, Sigler L, Peucker S et al (2002) Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii associated with fatal cutaneous mycoses in the salt-water crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). Med Mycol 40:143–151
Sigler L, Hambleton S, Pare J (2013) Molecular characterization of reptile pathogens currently known as members of the Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii complex and relationship with some human-associated isolates. J Clin Microbiol 51:3338–3357
Abarca M, Martorell J, Castellá G et al (2008) Cutaneous hyalohyphomycosis caused by a Chrysosporium species related to Nannizziopsis vriesii in two green iguanas (Iguana iguana). Med Mycol 46:349–354
Abarca M, Martorell J, Castellá G et al (2009) Dermatomycosis in a pet inland bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) caused by a Chrysosporium species related to Nannizziopsis vriesii. Vet Dermatol 20:295–299
Hellebuyck T, Baert K, Pasmans F et al (2010) Cutaneous hyalohyphomycosis in a girdled lizard (Cordylus giganteus) caused by Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii and successful treatment with voriconazole. Vet Dermatol 21:429–433
Johnson R, Sangster C, Sigler L et al (2011) Deep fungal dermatitis caused by the Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii in captive coastal bearded dragons (Pogona barbata). Aust Vet J 89:515–519
Ovchinnikov R, Manoyan M, Gaynullina A (2007) Etiological role of non-dermatophytic fungi in superficial animal mycoses (article in Russian). Proc VGNKI 68:148–153
Ovchinnikov R, Manoyan M, Gaynullina A et al (2008) Mycoses in exotic reptiles. Vet Dermatol 19:59
Ovchinnikov R, Manoyan M, Vasyliev D et al (2014) Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii as a dominating fungal pathogen in pet reptiles (article in Russian) Adv Med Mycol 13:371–373
Seifert K, Morgan-Jones G, Gams W et al (2011) The genera of Hyphomycetes. Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Utrecht
Pare J, Sigler L, Rosenthal K et al (2006) Microbiology: fungal and bacterial diseases of reptiles. In: Mader D (ed) Reptile medicine and surgery. Saunders Elsevier, St. Louis, pp 217–238
Stchigel A, Sutton D, Cano-Lira J et al (2013) Phylogeny of chrysosporia infecting reptiles: proposal of the new family Nannizziopsiaceae and five new species. Persoonia 31:86–100
Hedley J, Eatwell K, Hume L (2010) Necrotizing fungal dermatitis in a group of bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). Vet Rec 166:464–465
Schmidt V (2015) Fungal infections in reptiles—an emerging problem. J Exotic Pet Med 24(3):267–275
Martel A, Fonteyne P, Chiers K et al (2006) Nasal Nannizziopsis vriesii granuloma in an Amevia lizard (Amevia chaitzarni) Vlaams Diergeneeskd Tijdschr. 75:306–307
Pare J, Sigler L, Rypien K et al (2003) Cutaneous mycobiota of captive squamate reptiles with notes on the scarcity of Chrysosporium anamorph Nannizziopsis vriesii. J Herp Med Surg 13:10–15
Bowman M, Pare J, Sigler L et al (2007) Deep fungal dermatitis in three inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) caused by the Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii. Med Mycol 45:371–376
Pare J, Coyle K, Sigler L et al (2006) Pathogenicity of the Chrysosporium anamorph Nannizziopsis vriesii for veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus). Med Mycol 44:25–31
Lang H (2017) Mysterious disease attacks rattlesnakes. Natl Geogr. Available online. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/06/snake-fungal-disease-treatmentconservation/. Accessed 28 March 2018
Nichols D, Weyant R, Lamirande B et al (1999) Fatal mycotic dermatitis in captive brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis). J Zoo Wildl Med 30:111–118
Bertelsen M, Crawshaw G, Sigler L et al (2005) Fatal cutaneous mycosis in tentacle snakes (Erpeton tentaculatum) caused by Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii. J Zoo Wildl Med 36:82–87
Toplon D, Terrell S, Sigler L et al (2013) Dermatitis and cellulitis in leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) caused by the Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii. Vet Pathol 50(4):585–589
Eatwell K (2010) Suspected Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii (CANV) dermatitis in an albino Boa constrictor (Constrictor constrictor). J Small Anim Pract 51:290
Pare J, Jacobson E (2007) Mycotic diseases of reptiles. In: Jacobson E (ed) Infectious diseases and pathology of reptiles: color atlas and text. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 527–570
Hajsig M, de Vries G, Sertic V et al (1974) Chrysosporium evolceanui from pathologically changed dog skin. Veter Arhiv 44:209–211
Grahn B, Wolfer J, Keller C et al (1993) Equine keratomycosis: clinical and laboratory findings in 23 cases. Prog Vet Comp Ophthalmol 3:2–7
Saidi S, Bhatt S, Richard J et al (1994) Chrysosporium tropicum as a probable cause of mycosis of poultry in India. Mycopathologia 125:143–147
Watt P, Robins G, Galloway A et al (1995) Disseminated opportunistic fungal disease in dogs: 10 cases (1982–1990). J Am Vet Med Assoc 207:67–70
Cook E, Meler E, Garrett K et al (2015) Disseminated Chrysosporium infection in a German shepherd dog. Med Myc Case Rep 10:29–33
Brandt M, Gaunt D, Iqbal N et al (2005) False-positive Histoplasma capsulatum gen-probe chemiluminescent test result caused by a Chrysosporium species. J Clin Microbiol 43:1456–1458
Baggott A, McGann H, Barton R et al (2017) Disseminated Nannizziopsis obscura infection in a renal transplant patient- the first reported case. Med Myc Case Rep 17:20–24
Stillwell W, Rubin B, Axelrod J (1984) Chrysosporium, a new causative agent in osteomyelitis. Clin Orthop 184:190–192
Steininger C, van Lunzen J, Sobottka I et al (2005) Mycotic brain abscess caused by opportunistic reptile pathogen. Emerg Infect Dis 11:349–350
Suchonwanit P, Chaiyabutr C, Vachiramon V (2015) Primary cutaneous Chrysosporium infection following ear piercing: a case report. Case Rep Dermatol 7:136–140
Lorch J, Lankton J, Werner K et al (2015) Experimental infection of snakes with Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola causes pathological changes that typify snake fungal disease. MBio 6:e01534–e01515
Schmidt-Ukaj S, Loncaric I, Spergser J et al (2016) Dermatomycosis in three central bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) associated with Nannizziopsis chlamydospora. J Vet Diagn Investig 28:319–322
Bohuski E, Lorch J, Griffn K et al (2015) TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction for detection of Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, the fungus associated with snake fungal disease. BMC Vet Res 11:95
Sim R (2016) Voriconazole. J Exotic Pet Med 25:242–347
Van Waeyenberghe L, Baert K, Pasmans F et al (2010) Voriconazole, a safe alternative for treating infections caused by the Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). Med Mycol 48:880–885
Bensignor E (2006) Oral itraconazole as a pulse therapy for the treatment of canine Malassezia dermatitis: a randomized, blinded, comparative trial. Prat Med Chir Anim Comp 41(2):69–72
Allender M (2017) Snake fungal disease: implications for pet snakes. In: Proc. NAVC conference Orlando February 4–8 2017, pp 1357–1358
Garcia-Hartmann M, Hennequin C, Catteau S et al (2017) Clusters of Fusarium solani infection in juvenile captive born Caretta caretta sea turtles. J Mycol Med 27:113–118
Walters C, Townsend J, Staggs L et al (2009) Posaconazole for the treatment of zygomycosis in cetaceans. IAAAM Conference Proceedings 2009. Available online: https://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx?meta=Generic&pId=11285. Accessed 28 Mar 2018
Vasyliev D, Manoyan M, Dyagilets E (2005) Cases of disseminated dermatomycosis in reptiles: challenges in verifcation and therapy (article in Russian). Sci Res Zoo 18:78–87
Ben-Ziony Y, Boaz A (2000) Use of lufenuron for treating fungal infections of dogs and cats: 297 cases (1997–1999). J Am Vet Med Assoc 217:1510–1513
Latney L, Wellehan J (2013) Selected emerging infectious diseases of squamata. Vet Clin Exot Anim 16:319–338
Acknowledgments
We sincerely thank Marina M. Manoyan (Laboratory of Mycological Expertise, FSFI VGNKI, Moscow, Russia) for assistance in mycological diagnostic examination of clinical samples and general assistance.
Conflicts of Interests
There are none.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ovchinnikov, R.S., Vasyliev, D.B. (2019). Pathogenic Chrysosporium-Related Fungi in Reptiles and Other Animals. In: Singh, K., Srivastava, N. (eds) Recent Trends in Human and Animal Mycology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9435-5_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9435-5_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-9434-8
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-9435-5
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)