Evaluation of diagnostic modalities for the detection of Nannizziopsis guarroi in experimentally infected bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps)
Wong, Amanda Danielle
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127514
Description
Title
Evaluation of diagnostic modalities for the detection of Nannizziopsis guarroi in experimentally infected bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps)
Author(s)
Wong, Amanda Danielle
Issue Date
2024-12-11
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Keller, Krista A
Committee Member(s)
Allender, Matthew C
Terio, Karen A
Reinhart, Jennifer M
Department of Study
Vet Clinical Medicine
Discipline
VMS-Veterinary Clinical Medcne
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Keyword(s)
bearded dragon
Pogona
Pogona vitticeps
lizard
fungal
fungus
Nannizziopsis
Nannizziopsis guarroi
Abstract
Nannizziopsis guarroi causes mycotic dermatitis, colloquially known as “yellow fungus disease,” in lizards. Several fungal diagnostic assays may detect this microbe in clinical cases, but the clinical performance of these assays has yet to be explored. Six adult bearded dragons were cutaneously exposed to N. guarroi along the dorsal midline and serially sampled over five months as clinical cutaneous lesions developed. The median dates of first test positivity for fungal culture, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and commercially available next-generation sequencing (NGS) tests were 28, 6, and 17.5 days prior to lesion development, respectively. Lesions did not fluoresce under long-wave ultraviolent illumination. Femoral pores were a frequent site of infection in all four male lizards, representing a novel presentation. Additionally, one lizard developed subclinical granulomatous N. guarroi pneumonia. Postmortem assessment of diagnostics identified a high level of agreement between histopathology, fungal culture, and qPCR, however, cytologic agreement with histopathology was poor. Fungal culture, qPCR, and NGS are appropriate screening tools for detection of N. guarroi prior to the onset of cutaneous lesions and may all be used as diagnostic tools to confirm N. guarroi infection in clinically affected bearded dragons.
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