Pulmonary adiaspiromycosis in armadillos killed by motor vehicle collisions in Brazil

Author(s)

Navas-Suarez, Pedro Enrique ^[1] ; Sacristan, Carlos ^[1] ; Diaz-Delgado, Josue ^{[2, 1]} ; Yogui, Debora R. ^{[3, 4]} ; Alves, Mario Henrique ^{[3, 5]} ; Fuentes-Castillo, Danny ^[1] ; Ospina-Pinto, Catalina ^[1] ; Zamana, Roberta Ramblas ^[1] ; Jean Desbiez, Arnaud Leonard ^{[3, 6]} ; Catao-Dias, Jose Luiz ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci FMVZ, Dept Pathol VPT, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Texas A&M Vet Med Diagnost Lab, College Stn, TX - USA

^[3] Inst Conservacao Anim Silvestres ICAS, Campo Grande, MS - Brazil

^[4] Nashville Zoo, Nashville, TN - USA

^[5] Houston Zoo, Houston, TX - USA

^[6] Royal Zool Soc Scotland, Edinburgh, Midlothian - Scotland

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS; v. 11, n. 1 JAN 11 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Knowledge of infectious diseases in wildlife provides important information for preventing potential outbreaks of zoonotic diseases. Adiaspiromycosis is a neglected human disease caused by dimorphic Onygenales fungi. The disease is produced by the inflammatory response against growing adiaspores, leading to granulomatous pneumonia. In humans, adiaspiromycosis is relevant in immunosuppressed patients. In animals, it is associated with pneumonia in fossorial species. Given the potential role of armadillos in the epidemiology of adiaspiromycosis, in this study, we sought to investigate the occurrence and pathological features of adiaspiromycosis in roadkilled armadillos. In total, 54 armadillo carcasses were suitable for postmortem pathologic examinations between February 2017 and 2020. Adiaspores, associated with granulomatous lesions, were observed in ten six-banded (Euphractus sexcinctus) and two southern naked-tailed armadillos (Cabassous unicinctus). A previously uncharacterized Onygenales species was molecularly identified in two E. sexcinctus. In summary, herein we report 12 cases of pulmonary adiaspiromycosis (PA) in two species of free-living armadillos in Brazil. Both, the morphology of the fungus, as well as the histopathological findings (granulomatous inflammatory response to adiaspores) are consistent with PA; however, as the molecular identification differs from the reported species, the potential impact of this fungus for human PA is unknown, and we cannot rule out its impact on public health. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/25069-7 - Study and characterization of selected emerging viral agents and potentially associated with hepatopathies in coastal, pelagic and mixed habitat cetaceans in Brazil
• Grantee: Carlos Sacristan Yague
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 17/02223-8 - Comparative immunopathology of cetacean morbillivirus infection: histologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular studies
• Grantee: Josué Díaz Delgado
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral