Pseudallescheria boydii keratomycosis in a horse.
The fungal organism Pseudallescheria boydii was isolated from the cornea of a Quarter Horse with ulcerative keratitis. Despite aggressive hourly medication through a subpalpebral lavage system, with drugs including miconazole and natamycin, the cornea developed a stromal abscess. Orbital exenteration was performed after 3 weeks. The fungal isolate was later determined to be resistant to all 8 antifungal drugs tested. Microscopic examination of the cornea revealed fungal hyphae throughout the corneal stroma and penetrating the Descemet membrane. Pseudallescheria boydii has not been implicated previously as a cause of keratomycosis in horses or in other domestic animals, although cases in human beings have been described.
Department of Surgical Sciences, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
D S
DS
Friedman
J V
JV
Schoster
J P
JP
Pickett
R R
RR
Dubielzig
C
C
Czuprynski
J S
JS
Knoll
L J
LJ
Wolfgram
D000818:Animals; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D007634:Keratitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011541:Pseudallescheria / Q000302:isolation & purification*