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31 December 2013 INTESTINAL COCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS IN A RED COACHWHIP SNAKE (MASTICOPHIS FLAGELLUM PICEUS)
Sarah M. Churgin, Michael M. Garner, Julie Swenson, Daniel S. Bradway, Stephanie French, Matti Kiupel, Gary West
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

An adult female, wild-caught red coachwhip snake (Masticophis flagellum piceus) was euthanized at the Phoenix Zoo due to severe neurologic signs. Necropsy and histopathology revealed an invasive liposarcoma of the vertebral column, which likely caused the neurologic signs. Histology of the small intestine revealed a granuloma with intralesional yeasts morphologically compatible with the genus Coccidioides. The diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis was confirmed with immunohistochemistry staining. Coccidioides posadasii is endemic to Arizona and is an important cause of disseminated fungal infections in mammals in this region. This is the first known report of intestinal coccidioidomycosis in a veterinary species and the second report of coccidioidomycosis in a reptile.

American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Sarah M. Churgin, Michael M. Garner, Julie Swenson, Daniel S. Bradway, Stephanie French, Matti Kiupel, and Gary West "INTESTINAL COCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS IN A RED COACHWHIP SNAKE (MASTICOPHIS FLAGELLUM PICEUS)," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 44(4), 1094-1097, (31 December 2013). https://doi.org/10.1638/2013-0013R1.1
Received: 20 January 2013; Published: 31 December 2013
KEYWORDS
Coachwhip snake
Coccidioides posadasii
coccidioidomycosis
fungal disease
liposarcoma
Masticophis flagellum piceus
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