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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Virus and Prion Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #130773
Title: MENINGOENCEPHALITIS AND PNEUMONIA ASSOCIATED WITH CRYPTOCOCCUS NEOFORMANS INFECTION IN A FREE-RANGING ELK (CERVUS ELAPHUS ROOSEVELTI)

Author
item Hamir, Amirali
item Miller, Janice
item SONN, ROBERT - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Veterinary Record
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/2002
Publication Date: 9/14/2002
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: A case of fungal infection (Cryptococcus neoformans) in brain of an adult free-ranging elk with emaciation and severe neurologic signs is described. Examination of the brain revealed a slightly shrunken brain with small cavities containing mucoid material. Microscopic examinations revealed inflammation associated with many round fungal organisms. A few organisms were also seen in sections of the lung. In this animal clinical signs of brain abnormality and emaciation could easily be confused with those seen in chronic wasting disease (CWD). However, in this elk gross lesions were present in the brain, and laboratory tests did not reveal presence of CWD. Fungal infection of the brain has not previously been reported in elk. Publication of this report will make veterinary diagnosticians and transmissible spongiform encephalapahy (TSE) researchers aware of this condition. Fungal infections of the brain will in the future be considered das a differential diagnosis of CWD in elk.

Technical Abstract: Gross, histopathologic, and microbiologic findings are described in an adult free-ranging elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) with emaciation and severe neurologic signs. Gross examination revealed a moderately atrophic brain, and on coronal sections there were multifocal randomly distributed cavities with mucoid material. Microscopic examinations revealed severe meningoencephalitis associated with many round fungal organisms which were identified as Cryptococcus neoformans. A few organisms were also seen in sections of the lung. Microbiological examinations of the brain revealed moderate growth of the fungus. In this animal clinical signs of neurological abnormality and emaciation could easily be confused with those seen in chronic wasting disease (CWD). However, gross lesions in the brain were present, and the immunohistochemical tests did not reveal prion protein (PrPres) antigen in the brain of this elk. Cryptococcosis has not previously been reported in elk, and the disease needs to be considered in differential diagnosis of CWD.