THE USE OF A NEW ANTIFUNGAL, TERBINAFINE (LAMISIL) AS A POSSIBLE PROPHYLACTIC TREATMENT FOR Apophysomyces elegans IN CETACEANS

摘要

The death of two immunocompetent Atlantic bottlenose dolphins subsequent to hemorrhagic encephalitis caused by angioinvasive zygomycosis resulted in an attempt at prophylaxis for the remaining seven dolphins housed in the same pool. Two separate environmental samples were culture positive for Apophysomyces elegans. This fungus is a soil inhabitant that has been reported in warm and tropical climates. Recent reports of human infections with this fungal species have included immunocompetent individuals. Skin and soft tissue infections are one of the manifestations of this disease in dolphins and humans following wound contamination. Angioinvasiveness has been reported in as little as seven days following a deep wound contamination in a person. While diagnostics and treatment have improved, some deaths have still been reported even after extensive surgical debridement and treatment with liposomal amphotericin B or liposomal nystatin in both dolphins and people. A second serious clinical manifestationis dissemination inhalation that results in a hemorrhagic encephalitis from aggressive angioinvasiveness of the fungal organisms. This clinical manifestation has not been reported in the human literature and does not allow for the primary treatment of extensive surgical debridement.