Systemic Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides in an African Side-neck Turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa): Case report

Abstract

A 2-yr-old female African side-neck turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa) housed at a pet store in Illinois, USA presented for evaluation of nasal discharge and an ulcerative skin lesion. Molecular diagnostics for Mycoplasma spp., herpesviruses and frog virus 3 (ranavirus) were negative and cytologic evaluation of the ulceration showed non-septic inflammation without fungal elements. A presumptive diagnosis of a bacterial upper respiratory infection was treated with ceftazidime (20 mg/kg SC every 72 hrs) and husbandry improvements were recommended. One month later, the turtle re-presented and physical examination revealed diffuse skin sloughing and severe dehydration, and the animal was euthanized. Necropsy and histopathology revealed multiple fungal granulomas throughout the liver, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs. Heavy growth of a white powdery fungal organism was obtained from culture.  Four gene targets (D1/D2 domains of the 28S ribosomal DNA, 18S-28S ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region, actin and β-tubulin) were sequenced from the fungal isolate and each was >98% identical to Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree constructed from concatenated D1/D2, ITS, actin, and β-tubulin sequences from Nannizziopsis spp. placed the new fungal isolate in a highly supported (99% bootstrap support) monophyletic group with two N. arthrosporioides isolates. This case report describes the first known N. arthrosporioides infection in an aquatic turtle species and adds to the growing literature surrounding N. arthrosporioides infections in non-squamate reptilian patients.