CRYPTOCOCCOSIS (FUNGAL DISEASE)

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Causative Agent(s)

The causal fungi, Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii, exist in the environment and in tissues in a yeast form.

Clinical Presentation and Epidemiology

Bovine cryptococcosis has been associated only with cases of mastitis, and many cows in a herd may be infected. Affected cows have anorexia, decreased milk flow, swelling and firmness of affected quarters, and enlarged supra-mammary lymph nodes. The milk becomes viscid, mucoid, and grey-white, or it may be watery with flakes. The disease in horses almost invariably is a respiratory ailment with obstructive growths in the nasal cavities.

Diagnostic Considerations

The most rapid method of diagnosis is cytologic evaluation of milk, nasal exudate, skin exudate, CSF, or samples obtained by paracentesis of the aqueous or vitreous chambers of the eye or by impression smears of nasal or cutaneous masses.

Gram stain is most useful; the organism retains the crystal violet, whereas the capsule stains lightly red with safranin.

Indian ink is also used to visualize the organism, which appears unstained and silhouetted against a black background.

 

A latex agglutination test is commercially available in kit form

Management and Treatment

• Fluconazole 5-10 mg/kg/day or
• Itraconazole (10 mg/kg/day) are the treatment of choice