Todayโs path rounds are on ๐ฉ๐ก๐๐๐จ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฉ๐ก๐จ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐ก๐๐๐จ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฉ๐ก๐จ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ is an infection with ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ fungi, otherwise known as โ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌโ. Although these fungi most commonly infect the skin, they can also affect other organs.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
We most commonly see this in cats, however any species can get it!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Black yeasts are found in soil, on wood or in vegetation. Most animals become infected when the fungus contaminates a wound or is introduced into the skin via a thorn, sliver, or stick puncture.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
Once introduced into the skin, the yeasts activate a strong immune response. The immune system has a tough time digesting these fungi, so tons of inflammatory cells accumulate in the area, forming a nodule. Occasionally, the fungi are able to access the bloodstream and spread to other organs. One of the most common sites of infection is the brain!
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
The fungal ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ (branching form) are easily identified under the microscope. In some cases, fungal culture is needed to confirm the fungal species.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐?
Unfortunately, treatment is very challenging for this particular infection. Antifungals can be used, however they are not super effective. Most of the time the affected skin must be surgically removed. Cases affecting the brain have an extremely poor prognosis.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1-2) Phaeohyphomycosis in the skin! In some cases, the skin nodules appear black due to the pigmentation of the fungus.
3-4) Fungal hyphae under the microscope!
5-6) Brains with squishy areas of ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ (cell death) due to fungal infection.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Maxie, G. Jubb, Kennedy and Palmerโs Pathology of Domestic Animals, Volume 1. Sixth Edition.
Photos 1-6 ยฉ Noahโs Arkive contributor Metro, Schelling, Yin, Rech, Camus licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
