Toward the identification, characterization and experimental culture of Lacazia loboi from Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).
Lobomycosis (lacaziosis) is a chronic, granulomatous, fungal infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues of humans and dolphins. To date, the causative agent, the yeast-like organism Lacazia loboi, has not been grown in the laboratory, and there have been no recent reports describing attempts to culture the organism. As a result, studies on the efficacy of therapeutics and potential environmental reservoirs have not been conducted. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to utilize both classical and novel microbiological methods in order to stimulate growth of Lacazia cells collected from dolphin lesions. This included the experimental inoculation of novel media, cell culture, and the use of artificial skin matrices. Although unsuccessful, the methods and results of this study provide important insight into new approaches that could be utilized in future investigations of this elusive organism.
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL aschaef3@fau.edu.
Adam M
AM
Schaefer
Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
John S
JS
Reif
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL.
Esther A
EA
Guzmán
Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, GA.
Gregory D
GD
Bossart
Vero Beach Dermatology, Vero Beach, FL.
Patrick
P
Ottuso
Biomet Biologics, Vero Beach, FL.
Joseph
J
Snyder
Pathology Associates of Indian River, Vero Beach, FL.
Neil
N
Medalie
Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH.
Ralph
R
Rosato
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
Sushan
S
Han
Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, NOS, NOAA, Charleston, SC.
Patricia A
PA
Fair
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL.
Peter J
PJ
McCarthy
D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D050681:Bottle-Nosed Dolphin / Q000382:microbiology*; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D060367:Lacazia / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D060368:Lobomycosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D008853:Microscopy
Lacazia loboi; Lobomycosis; bottlenose dolphin