Todayโs path rounds are on ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ, also known as ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ก!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ is an infection with ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐, a fungus that is normally found in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract of animals. Under certain circumstances, this fungus can proliferate, causing the disease!
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
This disease can be seen in any species! However, it is mainly seen in young animals, like foals and calves, especially ones that have received antibiotics.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
When there is a change in the normal ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ๐ (the bacteria and fungi that live in the gastrointestinal tract), Candida may be allowed to grow more than it normally would. This typically occurs after antibiotics are given to the animal, which kill off a large number of the normal bacteria in the gut, allowing Candida access to more nutrients. However, stress or other immune suppressive conditions can also allow this change to occur.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
When Candida proliferates, it attaches itself to the ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ (cells lining the gut) and can release enzymes that cause damage to the cells. The fungusโ yeast forms will continue to accumulate, eventually producing a plaque-like mass on the gut surface. We most commonly see this on the tongue, but it can also be seen in the esophagus and stomach or rumen. The damage to the epithelium can lead to ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ (erosions in the gut surface) that can be very painful, and potentially give the fungus access to the bloodstream where it can spread to other organs.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
Candida can easily be identified on ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ of the thick tissue on the gut surface, or from ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฌ. They look like little ovals with a thin cell wall, that often form long chains.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐?
Thankfully, Candida is quite susceptible to our typical antifungals. However, it is important to remember that the proliferation occurred due to some change in the gut flora, so identifying and correcting that issue is often critical in a successful treatment plan!
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1-4) Examples of Candida on a tongue, esophagus, stomach and rumen!
5) Candida as shown in a scraping of one of the fungal plaques.
6) Candida in a biopsy from the mouth!
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Maxie, G. Jubb, Kennedy and Palmerโs Pathology of Domestic Animals, Volume 2. Sixth Edition.
Taboada J. Candidiasis. Merck Veterinary Manual 2020.
Photos 1-3, 5 ยฉ Noahโs Arkive contributors McNamara, Acland, Harrington, Lowenstine licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photos 4 and 6 ยฉ University of Calgary Diagnostic Services Unit.
