Disseminated Scytalidium infection in a German shepherd dog

We report a systemic mycosis in a German shepherd dog caused by Scytalidium spp. The patient presented for progressive cervical pain and forelimb hemiparesis. Cervical computed tomography revealed lysis associated with multiple vertebrae and a soft tissue mass adjacent to the spinal cord, as well as prescapular lymphadenopathy. Fine needle aspirates of the lymph nodes yielded hyphae, and a subsequent culture obtained a Scytalidium spp. Itraconazole therapy was initiated, but the subject was euthanized three months later due to progressive neurologic disease and discomfort. This appears to be the first report of disseminated disease by this species in veterinary medicine

Development of a novel real-time PCR multiplex assay for detection of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi and Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus

Strangles is a contagious bacterial disease of horses caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (SEE) that occurs globally. Rapid and accurate identification of infected horses is essential for controlling strangles. Because of limitations of existing PCR assays for SEE, we sought to identify novel primers and probes that enable simultaneous detection and differentiation of infection with SEE and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus (SEZ). Comparative genomics of U.S. strains of SEE and SEZ (n = 50 each) identified SE00768 from SEE and comB from SEZ as target genes. Primers and probes for real-time PCR (rtPCR) were designed for these genes and then aligned in silico with the genomes of strains of SEE (n = 725) and SEZ (n = 343). Additionally, the sensitivity and specificity relative to microbiologic culture were compared between 85 samples submitted to an accredited veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory. The respective primer and probe sets aligned with 99.7 % (723/725) isolates of SEE and 97.1 % (333/343) of SEZ. Of 85 diagnostic samples, 20 of 21 (95.2 %) SEE and 22 of 23 SEZ (95.6 %) culture-positive samples were positive by rtPCR for SEE and SEZ, respectively. Both SEE (n = 2) and SEZ (n = 3) were identified by rtPCR among 32 culture-negative samples. Results were rtPCR-positive for both SEE and SEZ in 21 of 44 (47.7 %) samples that were culture-positive for SEE or SEZ. The primers and probe sets reported here reliably detect SEE and SEZ from Europe and the U.S., and permit detection of concurrent infection with both subspecies.Fil: Morris, Ellen Ruth A.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Schroeder, Megan E.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Ferro, Pamela J.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Waller, Andrew Stephen. Intervacc Ab; Suecia. Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet (slu);Fil: McGlennon, Abigail A.. University of London; Reino UnidoFil: Bustos, Carla Paola. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria. Instituto de Investigaciones En Epidemiologia Veterinaria; . Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Gressler, Leticia T.. Instituto Federal Farroupilha; BrasilFil: Wu, Jing. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Lawhon, Sara D.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Boyle, Ashley G.. University of Pennsylvania; Estados UnidosFil: Lingsweiler, Sonia. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Paul, Narayan. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Dimitrov, Kiril. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Swinford, Amy K.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Bordin, Angela I.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Cohen, Noah D.. Texas A&M University; Estados Unido