Characterization of Metarhizium viride Mycosis in Veiled Chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus), Panther Chameleons (Furcifer pardalis), and Inland Bearded Dragons (Pogona vitticeps)

• Published in: Journal of clinical microbiology Vol. 55; no. 3; pp. 832 - 843
• Main Authors: Schmidt, Volker, Klasen, Linus, Schneider, Juliane, Hübel, Jens, Pees, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society for Microbiology 01.03.2017
• Subjects: Animals; Cluster Analysis; DNA, Fungal - chemistry; DNA, Fungal - genetics; DNA, Ribosomal - chemistry; DNA, Ribosomal - genetics; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - chemistry; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - genetics; Female; Histocytochemistry; Male; Metarhizium - isolation & purification; Microscopy; Mycological Typing Techniques; Mycology; Mycoses - microbiology; Mycoses - pathology; Mycoses - veterinary; Phylogeny; Reptiles; RNA, Ribosomal - genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S - genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S - genetics; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Hypocreales; granulomatous glossitis; reptiles; ribosomal DNA; visceral mycosis; Clavicipitaceae; lizards
• ISSN: 0095-1137; 1098-660X
• DOI: 10.1128/JCM.02206-16

has 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 of in 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 ( ), six veiled chameleons ( ), and six panther chameleons ( ) 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 of based 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 of According to statistical analysis, genotypes did not correlate with differences in pathogenicity, antifungal susceptibility, or species specificity.