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Disseminated Lichtheimia ramosa infection in a Japanese Black calf

Summary

A young beef calf developed severe diarrhea and fever that did not respond to multiple antibiotics. The calf had an underdeveloped immune system (missing thymus gland) and was treated with many antibiotics and steroids, which weakened its immune system further. After death, examination revealed the calf had a widespread fungal infection caused by Lichtheimia ramosa in the liver and digestive tract, representing the first documented case of this type in Japanese Black cattle.

Background

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection caused by Mucorales species that typically occurs in immunocompromised hosts. Lichtheimia ramosa is an uncommon causative agent in humans and animals, with limited reported cases in cattle. This case report documents a disseminated L. ramosa infection in a Japanese Black calf.

Objective

To describe and characterize a case of disseminated Lichtheimia ramosa infection in a Japanese Black calf, including clinical presentation, pathological findings, and molecular identification of the causative fungus.

Results

The calf had thymus hypoplasia and disseminated mucormycosis with lesions in the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Multifocal granulomatous lesions with fungal hyphae were detected histologically. Lichtheimia ramosa subgroup I was isolated from the liver and confirmed through molecular analysis with 99.63% sequence identity.

Conclusion

This is the first reported case of disseminated L. ramosa infection in a Japanese Black calf. Thymus hypoplasia combined with prolonged broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and glucocorticoid administration created conditions for fungal proliferation and dissemination through the gastrointestinal tract to the liver via hematogenous spread.
  • Published in:Medical Mycology Case Reports,
  • Study Type:Case Report,
  • Source: PMID: 41031331
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