Two Cases of Lacaziosis in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Japan

Abstract

Lacaziosis, formerly called lobomycosis, caused byLacazia loboi, is a zoonotic mycosis found in humans and dolphins and is endemic in the countries on the Atlantic Ocean. Although the Japanese coast is not considered an endemic area, photographic records of lacaziosis-like skin lesions were found in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) that were migrating in the Goto Islands (Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan). We diagnosed 2 cases of lacaziosis in bottlenose dolphins captured simultaneously at the same coast within Japanese territory on the basis of clinical characteristics, cytology, histopathology, immunological tests, and detection of partial sequences of a 43 kDa glycoprotein coding gene (gp43) with a nested-PCR system. The granulomatous skin lesions from the present cases were similar to those found in animals from endemic areas, containing multiple budding and chains of round yeast cells and positive in the immune-staining with anti-Paracoccidioides brasiliensisserum which is a fungal species related toL. loboi; however, thegp43gene sequences derived from the present cases showed 94.1% homology toP. brasiliensisand 84.1% toL. loboi. We confirmed that the causative agent at the present cases was different genotype ofL. loboifrom Amazon area.