Successful potassium iodide treatment for rhinofacial pythiosis in sheep

Daniel G Ubiali; Asheley H B Pereira; Fabiana M Boabaid; Valéria Dutra; Luciano Nakazato; Camila G Campos; Edson M Colodel; Caroline A Pescador; Franklin Riet-Correa

doi:10.1016/j.mycmed.2021.101233

Successful potassium iodide treatment for rhinofacial pythiosis in sheep

J Mycol Med. 2022 Mar;32(1):101233. doi: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2021.101233. Epub 2021 Dec 5.

Authors

Daniel G Ubiali¹, Asheley H B Pereira², Fabiana M Boabaid³, Valéria Dutra⁴, Luciano Nakazato⁴, Camila G Campos⁵, Edson M Colodel⁵, Caroline A Pescador⁵, Franklin Riet-Correa⁶

Affiliations

¹ Pathological Anatomy Sector (SAP), Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRuralRJ), BR-465 Km 7, Seropédica, RJ 23.890-001, Brazil. Electronic address: danielubiali@ufrrj.br.
² Pathological Anatomy Sector (SAP), Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRuralRJ), BR-465 Km 7, Seropédica, RJ 23.890-001, Brazil.
³ Centro Universitario de Tacuarembó, Universidad de la República, Ruta 5 Km 386, Tacuarembó, TA 45000, Uruguay.
⁴ Microbiology Laboratory, Veterinary Medicine Faculty, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Av. Fernando Corrêa 2367, Coxipó, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil.
⁵ Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Veterinary Medicine Faculty, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Av. Fernando Corrêa 2367, Coxipó, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil.
⁶ Post-Graduate Program in Animal Science in the Tropics, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil.

PMID: 34902797
DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2021.101233

Abstract

Background: Pythiosis in sheep is an important disease in Brazil, which could cause rhinitis, dermatitis and alimentary tract inflammation. It is caused by the aquatic oomycete, Pythium insidiosum. The rhinofacial pythiosis causes facial deformity and upper respiratory tract clinical signs associated with necroproliferative masses occupying the rostral nasal cavity and hard palate. Little is known regarding the therapy, prophylaxis and pathogenesis of this disease.

Methodology: During the 6-year study, we examined 13 sheep presenting rhinofacial pythiosis. The diagnosis was performed through biopsy of the rhinofacial lesions followed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies against P insidiosum, polymerase chain reaction and an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: This study presents the clinical findings of a potassium iodide treatment of rhinofacial pythiosis in sheep. All sheep were treated with 10 ml of 10% potassium iodide solution, administered orally every day during 63-120 (mean 85) days. Among treated sheep, 84.6% demonstrated complete recovery.

Conclusion: Potassium iodide therapy may treat rhinofacial pythiosis in sheep.

Keywords: Nasal cavity; Pythiosis; Pythium insidiosum; Rhinitis; Ruminant; Therapy.

MeSH terms

Animals
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Potassium Iodide / therapeutic use
Pythiosis* / diagnosis
Pythiosis* / drug therapy
Pythium*
Rhinitis* / drug therapy
Rhinitis* / veterinary
Sheep

Substances

Potassium Iodide