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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #301950
Title: Clinical, morphological, and molecular characterization of Penicillium canis, sp. nov., isolated from a dog with osteomyelitis

Author
item LANGLOIS, DANIEL - Michigan State University
item BAILEY, CHRIS - Michigan State University
item NELSON, NATHAN - Michigan State University
item SUTTON, DEANNA - University Of Texas Health Science Center
item WIEDERHOLD, NATHAN - University Of Texas Health Science Center
item THOMPSON, ELIZABETH - University Of Texas Health Science Center
item FU, JIANMIN - University Of Texas Health Science Center
item FRENCH, STEPHANIE - Michigan State University
item SWENSON, CHERYL - Michigan State University
item WICKES, BRIAN - Michigan State University
item Peterson, Stephen
item VILAR-SAAVEDRA, PAULA - Virginia-Maryland Regional College Of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM)

Submitted to: Journal of Clinical Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/17/2014
Publication Date: 7/1/2014
Citation: Langlois, D.K., Sutton, D.A., Swenson, C.L., Bailey, C.J., Wiederhold, N.P., Nelson, N.C., Thompson, E.H., Wickes, B.L., French, S., Fu, J., Vilar-Saavedra, P., Peterson, S.W. 2014. Clinical, morphological, and molecular characterization of Penicillium canis, sp. nov., isolated from a dog with osteomyelitis. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 52(7):2447-2453.

Interpretive Summary: Molds rarely cause infections in domestic dogs, but when it happens the infection is often fatal. An unknown fungus was isolated from the hip bone of a Rhodesian Ridgeback dog in Michigan. Close investigation of the fungus showed that it is a previously unknown type. We describe and name this new fungus Penicillium canis. We also describe the symptoms caused by the infection. This information will be useful for veterinarians, medical testing laboratories and pharmaceutical companies and also for academic mycologists and veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: Infections caused by Penicillium spp. are rare in dogs, and the prognosis in these cases is poor. An unknown species of Penicillium was isolated from a bone lesion in a young dog with osteomyelitis of the right ilium. Extensive diagnostic evaluation did not reveal evidence of dissemination. Resolution of lameness and clinically stable disease were achieved with intravenous phospholipid complexed amphotericin B initially, followed by long-term therapy with combination terbinafine and ketoconazole. A detailed morphological and molecular characterization of the mould was undertaken. Sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer revealed the isolate to be closely related to Penicillium menonorum and Penicillium pimiteouiense. Additional sequence analysis of Beta-tubulin, calmodulin, mini-chromosome maintenance factor, DNA dependent RNA polymerase, and pre-rRNA processing protein revealed the isolate to be a novel species; the name Penicillium canis, sp. nov., is proposed. Morphologically, smooth ovoid conidia, greenish-gray colony color, slow growth on all media, and failure to form ascomata distinguish this species from closely related Penicillium spp. The type strain (NRRL 62798) has been deposited in the culture collection (UTHSC DI13-196) at the University of Texas Health Science Center Fungus Testing Laboratory.