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Successful Treatment of Fungal Dermatitis in a Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Summary

A bottlenose dolphin at a Japanese aquarium developed a serious fungal infection on its tail fin while suffering from severe digestive problems and weight loss. The infection was caused by two types of fungi that are normally hard to treat because they resist many antifungal medications. Veterinarians successfully treated the dolphin using a combination of two antifungal drugs (voriconazole and terbinafine), surgical removal of dead tissue, and daily wound cleaning with special solutions. The dolphin’s wound eventually healed completely, and this is the first documented successful treatment of these particular fungal infections in bottlenose dolphins.

Background

Fungal infections have emerged as major causes of disease in marine mammals in recent decades. This case involved a managed bottlenose dolphin with severe digestive problems and significant weight loss that led to immunosuppression and susceptibility to opportunistic fungal infections on the tail fin.

Objective

To report the detection, identification, and successful treatment of fungal dermatitis caused by both dematiaceous fungi (pheohyphomycosis) and Fusarium oxysporum (fusariomycosis) in a bottlenose dolphin using combination antifungal therapy.

Results

Fusarium oxysporum was identified from wound surface cultures and dematiaceous fungi from subcutaneous tissue histopathology. Antifungal susceptibility testing showed synergistic reduction in minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) when voriconazole and terbinafine were combined. Hematological examination revealed reduction in inflammatory markers after treatment, and complete wound healing was achieved with the combination therapy and surgical debridement.

Conclusion

Co-administration of voriconazole and terbinafine combined with surgical resection successfully eliminated both pheohyphomycosis and fusariomycosis in the bottlenose dolphin. This represents the first reported successful treatment of both infections in a bottlenose dolphin using this combination therapy approach. Wound healing was achieved through systematic antifungals and daily debridement with PHMB and betaine.
  • Published in:Microorganisms,
  • Study Type:Case Report,
  • Source: PMID: 39858874, DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13010106
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