Disseminated Phaeohyphomycosis Due to an Exophiala species in a Galapagos Tortoise, Geochelone nigra
J Herpe Med Surg 15[2]:20-26 Aug'05 Pathology Pages 33 Refs

Phaeohyphomycosis is an infection caused by brown to black fungi presenting in tissue sections as dark walled septate hyphae, dark walled yeast, or both. Disseminated phaeohyphomycosis in reptiles has rarely been reported in the literature. An adult Galapagos tortoise, Geochelone nigra, presented with unilateral ocular lesions consisting of buphthalmia and a posterior chamber density. Clinical progression, diagnostics, and therapeutics are discussed. Diagnosis of phaeohyphomycosis was made on histopathology of the enucleated eye. Eventual euthanasia and necropsy revealed widespread granulomatous inflammation with fungal invasion. Dissemination was likely hematogenous. Culture and molecular analyses determined the etiologic agent to be an Exophiala species not previously seen. A species name has not been determined for this fungus. [Abstract]