Pythium insidiosum AND PYTHIOSIS
A REVIEW OF LITERATURE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35172/rvz.2023.v30.1535Keywords:
oomycota, zoospores, swamp cancer, krunkerAbstract
Pythium insidiosum is the etiological agent of pythiosis. This microorganism is a pathogenic oomycete that causes disease in several animal species, such as horses, dogs, cattle, sheep, goats, cats, birds and also humans. It is a disease characterized by lesions in the cutaneous/subcutaneous tissues in the form of exudative granulomas, the formation of “kunkers” being common in horses. It can also cause damage in gastrointestinal tract, vascular, ocular, and disseminated to internal organs. The diagnostic methods are, in addition to clinical signs and patient history, culture and identification of the agent, serological tests (immunodiffusion, ELISA, Western blot, hemagglutination and immunochromatographic tests), histopathological, immunohistochemical, molecular tests and recently, proteomic analysis, like MALDI-TOF. The treatment is based on surgical exeresis of the lesion with margins free of the pathogen, and this treatment is only possible in regions without involviment of important anatomical structures; use of drugs such as Amphotericin B and Potassium Iodide and immunotherapy as a way to modulate the host immune response. There is no predisposing factor for acquiring the disease, the main risk being staying in stagnant water with the presence of plant material. Thus, the main form of infection is to avoid, when possible, keeping animals inside ponds, rivers/streams or dams for long periods, as well as using personal protective equipment on humans when they need to enter such environments.
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