Pathological and molecular detection of a rare case of cutaneous cryptococcosis in a 9-year-old horse

This report describes a rare case of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis in equines. A young gelding horse was presented with facial masses showing ulcerations and yellowish discharge. Histopathological examination of biopsy specimens showed a dermal granulomatous reaction containing neutrophils, macrophages, and giant cells. In addition, numerous spherical yeast-like organisms were clearly observed within the granulomatous reaction. We suspected that the observed organisms belong to theCryptococcus spp., which was indeed by its shape on Sabouraud dextrose agar, Gram-stained smear suggestiveC. neoformans, and confirmed on PCR. Our report is one of the worldwide rare reports linking cryptococcosis to cutaneous granuloma in equines and the first to provide a molecular confirmation of the cryptococcal involvement. The report highlights the importance of considering cryptococcosis in differential diagnosis of infectious cutaneous masses in equines.
Source: Comparative Clinical Pathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research