Pulmonary aspergillosis in an African elephant (Loxodonta africana)

Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 2009 Apr;116(4):148-51.

Abstract

A 26-year-old female African elephant (Loxodonta africana) with a history of purulent pododermatitis, recurrent abdominal pain, and severe weight loss died spontaneously after a period of deteriorating disease. The main pathological finding was a severe bilateral pyogranulomatous, partially necrotizing pneumonia with numerous intralesional fungal hyphae. At microbiological examination Aspergillus spp. were isolated. The present case indicates that mycotic pneumonia should to be considered as a differential diagnosis of pulmonary disorders in elephants.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aspergillus / isolation & purification*
  • Elephants / microbiology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / diagnosis
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / mortality
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / pathology
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / veterinary*