Mucormicosys due to Saksenaea vasiformis in a dog

Abstract

A 2-year-old female Border collie was examined for dermatitis with a partial alopecic zone around her left front member. Six months later the lesion became swollen, alopecic with ulcerated areas. Microscopy analysis of samples showed numerous non-septate, branching, thin-walled and irregular shaped hyphal elements. Fungal cultures and molecular studies identified Saksenaea vasiformis. Treatments with griseofulvin, itraconazole and surgical debridement were used, however, fourteen months later the dog was euthanatized because of the unfavorable clinical outcome.

Cutaneous mucormycosis caused by Saksenaea vasiformis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

“…Similar to other members of the order Mucorales, S. vasiformis produces hyaline, broad fungal filaments . However, the most characteristic feature of the organism is it's sporulation . They produce single, unbranched, sporangiophores with dichotomously branched, darkly pigmented rhizoids .…”

“…Saksenaea vasiformis was first isolated from soil in India by Saksena in 1953 . Thereafter, this filamentous fungus has been isolated from soil samples, driftwood, and grains, from different parts of the world including India, United States, Central America, and Israel …”

“…It has been reported as etiological agent for both human and veterinary infections . There are reports of fatal cutaneous lesions caused by these fungi among dogs, cow, and dolphins .…”

“…Unlike other mucormycosis, S. vasiformis infection is largely limited to the skin and subcutaneous tissue and most of the reported cases are cutaneous infections . The cutaneous infections follow the traumatic disruption of the integrity of the skin and usually seen after burns, tattoos, insect bites, scorpion bites, motor traffic accidents, lacerations, and abrasions . It has also been reported following needle stick injuries, intramuscular injections, vascular catheterization, and surgery in healthcare sector .…”

“…S. vasiformis has been recovered from endocardium, lungs, skin lesions, and thyroid during postmortem in a fatal disseminated case . Hematogenous dissemination to distance organs after inhalation of spores could be the most probable mode of infection in these rare disseminated cases . The prognosis of these manifestations is poor than cutaneous form and most of the patients with rhino‐orbito‐cerebral infections (83%) and disseminated infections (75%) are dying …”