Received: January 14, 2009.

Accepted: July 1, 2009.

Abstract published online: July 7, 2009.

Full paper published online: August 31, 2009.

BRAIN AND LUNG CRYPTOCOCCOMA AND CONCURRENT Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis INFECTION IN A GOAT: A CASE REPORT

Luvizotto MCR (1), Carreira VS (1), Ferrari HF (1), Ribeiro D (2), Vallim MA (3), Vasco A (2), Cardoso TC (1)

(1) Laboratory of Animal Pathology and Microbiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Araçatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil; (2) Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Federal University of Minas Gerais, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil; (3) Department of Microbiology, Federal University of São Paulo, UNIFESP, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil.

ABSTRACT: A four-year-old male goat with a history of neurological disorder was euthanized. It presented uncommon nodules in the brain and lungs associated with multiple abscesses, predominantly in the spleen and liver. Histological examination of brain and lung sections revealed yeast forms confirmed to be Cryptococcus gattii after a combination of isolation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedures. Moreover, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection was diagnosed by PCR of samples from the lung, spleen and liver. The present report highlights the rare concurrent infection of C. gatti and C. pseudotuberculosis in an adult goat from São Paulo state, Brazil, and indicates the necessity of surveillance in the treatment of goats with atypical pulmonary infections associated with neurological disorders.

KEY WORDS: Cryptococcus gattii, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, meningoencephalitis, goat.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: There is no conflict.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

TEREZA CRISTINA CARDOSO, Laboratório de Microbiologia, Departamento de Apoio, Produção e Saúde Animal, UNESP, Rua Clóvis Pestana, 793, Araçatuba, SP, 16.050-680, Brasil. Phone: +55 18 3636 1421. Fax: +55 18 36361403. Email: tcardoso@fmva.unesp.br.