Rhinocerebral Zygomycosis Due to a Lichtheimia ramosa Infection in a Calf: Neural Spread Through the Olfactory Nerves

Abstract

Here, we report a case of rhinocerebral zygomycosis due to a Lichtheimia ramosa infection in a calf. A histopathological examination revealed that a fungus had invaded the brain through the olfactory nerves. Lichtheimia ramosa was detected by polymerase chain reaction analysis of DNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of the affected tissue. This is the first case of rhinocerebral zygomycosis to involve cattle. Also, this is the first such case to involve fungal invasion into the central nervous system through the cranial nerve itself, rather than through perineural tissue.

Keywords: Cattle; Lichtheimia ramosa; Neural spread; Rhinocerebral; Zygomycosis.