ATYPICAL PRESENTATION OF CRYPTOCOCCUS NEOFORMANS IN A KOALA (PHASCOLARCTOS CINEREUS): A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY STUDY

J Zoo Wildl Med. 2017 Mar;48(1):250-254. doi: 10.1638/2016-0089.1.

Abstract

Cryptococcosis is a worldwide and potentially fatal mycosis documented in wild and captive koalas ( Phascolarctos cinereus ) caused by Cryptococcus neoformans . Though mainly a subclinical disease, when the nasal cavity is affected, epistaxis, mucopurulent nasal discharge, dyspnea, and facial distortion may occur. This report describes a case of cryptococcosis in a koala where unilateral exophthalmos was the only evident clinical sign and magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography findings are described. Both advanced imaging techniques should be considered as standard and complementary techniques for nasal cavity evaluation in koalas.

Keywords: Cryptococcus spp.; Key words:  Computed tomography; Phascolarctos cinereus; exophthalmos; koala; magnetic resonance imaging.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Zoo
  • Cryptococcosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Cryptococcosis / pathology
  • Cryptococcosis / veterinary*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary*
  • Male
  • Phascolarctidae*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary*