A 6-month-old female Japanese Black calf became gradually emaciated over a 40-day period and was humanely killed. Necropsy revealed that hyperkeratotic nodules had spread over almost the entire body surface. Scopulariopsis brevicaulis was isolated from the skin and identified morphologically and by gene sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domain of large subunit ribosomal RNA. Numerous periodic acid-Schiff-positive, lemon-shaped conidia were detected histologically in the keratinized layer and the hair follicles. The distribution of the fungal elements in the skin corresponded to that of the hyperkeratotic lesions. This is the first report of a disease caused by S. brevicaulis in animals. Previously reported human infections have not included generalized hyperkeratosis.
(Epidemiological Research Team, TEL +81-29-838-7708)
Reference:
Ogawa, S., et al. (2008) J. Comp. Pathol. 138: 145-150.
