Fatal Purpureocillium lilacinum pneumonia in a green tree python. (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meyer, Jean; Loncaric, Igor; Richter, Barbara; Spergser, Joachim
• Is Part Of: Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation. Volume 30:Number 2(2018:Mar.)
• Page Start: 305
• Page End: 309
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: Green tree python -- Morelia viridis -- Purpureocillium lilacinum -- mycoses -- pneumonia -- reptile -- snakes; Veterinary medicine -- Diagnosis -- Periodicals; 636.0896075
• DOI: 10.1177/1040638717750430
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1040-6387

Abstract

A 10-y-old female green tree python ( Morelia viridis ) died of fungal pneumonia caused by Purpureocillium lilacinum, which was confirmed histologically and by PCR and subsequent DNA sequencing. The same fungal species was cultivated from a swab taken from the terrarium in which the snake was housed. Clinical and environmental P. lilacinum isolates were indistinguishable by the typing method applied, strongly suggesting clonal relatedness of both isolates. Because no other underlying predisposing respiratory infection could be detected by virus-specific PCR or histopathology, P. lilacinum was considered a primary pulmonary pathogen in this tree python.