title: Characterization of Metarhizium viride Mycosis in Veiled Chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus), Panther Chameleons (Furcifer pardalis), and Inland Bearded Dragons (Pogona vitticeps).
abstract: Metarhizium viridehas been associated with fatal systemic mycoses in chameleons, but subsequent data on mycoses caused by this fungus in reptiles are lacking. The aim of this investigation was therefore to obtain information on the presence ofM. viridein reptiles kept as pets in captivity and its association with clinical signs and pathological findings as well as improvement of diagnostic procedures. Beside 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) (small subunit [SSU]) and internal transcribed spacer region 1 (ITS-1), a fragment of the large subunit (LSU) of 28S rDNA, including domain 1 (D1) and D2, was sequenced for the identification of the fungus and phylogenetic analysis. Cultural isolation and histopathological examinations as well as the pattern of antifungal drug resistance, determined by using agar diffusion testing, were additionally used for comparison of the isolates. In total, 20 isolates from eight inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps), six veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus), and six panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) were examined. Most of the lizards suffered from fungal glossitis, stomatitis, and pharyngitis or died due to visceral mycosis. Treatment with different antifungal drugs according to resistance patterns in all three different lizard species was unsuccessful. Sequence analysis resulted in four different genotypes ofM. viridebased on differences in the LSU fragment, whereas the SSU and ITS-1 were identical in all isolates. Sequence analysis of the SSU fragment revealed the first presentation of a valid large fragment of the SSU ofM. virideAccording to statistical analysis, genotypes did not correlate with differences in pathogenicity, antifungal susceptibility, or species specificity.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany volker.schmidt@vogelklinik.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6001-9542
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Linus
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Klasen
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hübel
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pees
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D052981:Metarhizium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008853:Microscopy; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D009181:Mycoses / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / Q000235:genetics; D012104:Reptiles; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; C065096:RNA, ribosomal, 26S
keywords: Clavicipitaceae; Hypocreales; granulomatous glossitis; lizards; reptiles; ribosomal DNA; visceral mycosis