Disseminated histoplasmosis in a sea otter (Enhydra lutris).
Disseminated histoplasmosis was diagnosed in a 4.75-year-old, captive female sea otter (Enhydra lutris). At necropsy, the liver was found to be markedly swollen, with many nodules (4-12 mm in diameter). Histologically, macrophages containing numerous intracellular yeast-like organisms were noted in the liver, spleen, lung and kidney. These organisms were labelled immunohistochemically with anti-histoplasma yeast antibody. Ultrastructurally, the yeast-like organisms, 2-4 microm in diameter, were found within membranous structures in the cytoplasm of macrophages. This is the first confirmed report of disseminated histoplasmosis in sea otters.
Morita
T
T
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Tottori University, Tottori-shi, Tottori 680-8553, Japan.
Kishimoto
M
M
Shimada
A
A
Matsumoto
Y
Y
Shindo
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006658:Histoplasma / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010041:Otters / Q000382:microbiology*; D012623:Seawater
D000946:Antigens, Fungal