Mycotic pulmonary disease of captive giant tortoises due toBeauvaria bassianaandPaecilomyces fumoso-roseus

Abstract

Four cases of fatal pulmonary disease of the giant tortoise were studied. In 2 instances the entomogenous fungus Beauvaria bassiana was demonstrated as the etiologic agent. This is the first evidence of systemic disease of a vertebrate animal by this organism. The pathological picture was most unusual in that conidiophores and conidia were observed in the lung tissue. In a third case Paecilomyces fumoso-roseus appeared to be the cause of the pulmonary disease. In a fourth case the cause of the pulmonary disease is unknown. It is suggested that chilling of the animals predisposed them to infection. Mycelial growth was found in the lung of a box turtle (Terrapene carolina) experimentally inoculated with spores of Beauvaria bassiana. Quatre cas mortels de pneumopathie ont été étudiés chez des tortues géantes. Par deux fois, le champignon entomophile Beauvaria bassiana a été reconnu comme agent pathogène. Ceci constitute le premier exemple de maladie viscérale, chez un vertébré, causée par ce microorganisme. L'aspect histopathologique était très inhabituel: on notait la présence de conidiophores et de conidies dans le tissu pulmonaire. Dans un troisième cas, Paecilomyces fumoso-roseus paraît être l'agent responsable de l'affection pulmonaire. Quant au quatrième cas, l'agent étiologique est inconnu. On suggère que la thermoregulation sanguine de ces animaux les a prédisposés à l'infection.