Dermatitis and cellulitis in leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) caused by the Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii

Vet Pathol. 2013 Jul;50(4):585-9. doi: 10.1177/0300985812465324. Epub 2012 Nov 16.

Abstract

An epizootic of ulcerative to nodular ventral dermatitis was observed in a large breeding colony of 8-month to 5-year-old leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) of both sexes. Two representative mature male geckos were euthanized for diagnostic necropsy. The Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii (CANV) was isolated from the skin lesions, and identification was confirmed by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region of the rRNA gene. Histopathology revealed multifocal to coalescing dermal and subcutaneous heterophilic granulomas that contained septate fungal hyphae. There was also multifocal epidermal hyperplasia with hyperkeratosis, and similar hyphae were present within the stratum corneum, occasionally with terminal chains of arthroconidia consistent with the CANV. In one case, there was focal extension of granulomatous inflammation into the underlying masseter muscle. This is the first report of dermatitis and cellulitis due to the CANV in leopard geckos.

Keywords: Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii; Eublepharis macularius; dermatitis; dermatomycosis; fungus; internal transcribed spacer sequencing; leopard gecko; skin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cellulitis / microbiology
  • Cellulitis / pathology
  • Cellulitis / veterinary*
  • Chrysosporium / genetics
  • Chrysosporium / isolation & purification*
  • DNA, Fungal / chemistry
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / chemistry
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / genetics
  • Dermatitis / microbiology
  • Dermatitis / pathology
  • Dermatitis / veterinary*
  • Dermatomycoses / microbiology
  • Dermatomycoses / pathology
  • Dermatomycoses / veterinary*
  • Female
  • Granuloma / microbiology
  • Granuloma / pathology
  • Granuloma / veterinary*
  • Hyperplasia / veterinary
  • Hyphae
  • Lizards / microbiology*
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Skin / microbiology
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin Ulcer / microbiology
  • Skin Ulcer / pathology
  • Skin Ulcer / veterinary
  • Spores, Fungal

Substances

  • DNA, Fungal
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer

Associated data

  • GENBANK/JX457149