TY - JOUR
T1 - Disseminated protothecosis in a Ruwenzori long-haired fruit bat (Rousettus lanosus)
AU - Stockinger, Brian G.
AU - Doster, Alan R.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright 2017 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.
PY - 2017/12/1
Y1 - 2017/12/1
N2 - An adult male Ruwenzori long-haired fruit bat (Rousettus lanosus) presented for lethargy and unthriftiness. Physical examination revealed cranial alopecia, mandibular ulceration, and dehydration. Supportive care and antibiotic therapy were initiated. The bat was found dead 3 days after presentation. Necropsy revealed alopecia on the head and body, exposed dried bone on the rostral tip of the mandible, and excessive clear pleural fluid. Lungs were congested and contained miliary white foci disseminated randomly throughout the parenchyma. Subcutaneous, intra-thoracic, and intra-abdominal adipose depots were minimal. Histologic examination of skin and lung revealed the presence of algal-like organisms morphologically consistent with Prototheca spp. Polymerase chain reaction amplification revealed >99% sequence identity match with Prototheca zopfii. Protothecosis has been previously reported in a single bat, Lyle's flying fox (Pteropus lylei), in Switzerland, but definitive protothecal speciation was not possible.
AB - An adult male Ruwenzori long-haired fruit bat (Rousettus lanosus) presented for lethargy and unthriftiness. Physical examination revealed cranial alopecia, mandibular ulceration, and dehydration. Supportive care and antibiotic therapy were initiated. The bat was found dead 3 days after presentation. Necropsy revealed alopecia on the head and body, exposed dried bone on the rostral tip of the mandible, and excessive clear pleural fluid. Lungs were congested and contained miliary white foci disseminated randomly throughout the parenchyma. Subcutaneous, intra-thoracic, and intra-abdominal adipose depots were minimal. Histologic examination of skin and lung revealed the presence of algal-like organisms morphologically consistent with Prototheca spp. Polymerase chain reaction amplification revealed >99% sequence identity match with Prototheca zopfii. Protothecosis has been previously reported in a single bat, Lyle's flying fox (Pteropus lylei), in Switzerland, but definitive protothecal speciation was not possible.
KW - Disseminated
KW - Prototheca zopfii
KW - Protothecosis
KW - Rousettus lanosus
KW - Ruwenzori long-haired fruit bat
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U2 - 10.1638/2017-0070R.1
DO - 10.1638/2017-0070R.1
M3 - Article
C2 - 29297807
AN - SCOPUS:85040245537
SN - 1042-7260
VL - 48
SP - 1260
EP - 1263
JO - Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
JF - Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
IS - 4
ER -