Pulmonary aspergillosis in an African elephant (Loxodonta africana).
A 26-year-old female African elephant (Loxodonta africana) with a history of purulent pododermatitis, recurrent abdominal pain, and severe weight loss died spontaneously after a period of deteriorating disease. The main pathological finding was a severe bilateral pyogranulomatous, partially necrotizing pneumonia with numerous intralesional fungal hyphae. At microbiological examination Aspergillus spp. were isolated. The present case indicates that mycotic pneumonia should to be considered as a differential diagnosis of pulmonary disorders in elephants.
Kaim
Ute
U
Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover.
Paltian
Vanja
V
Krudewig
Christiane
C
Nieder
Anne
A
Wohlsein
Peter
P
D000818:Animals; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004606:Elephants / Q000382:microbiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*