Adiaspiromycosis in the Franklin's ground squirrel, Spermophilus franklini, and pika, Ochotona princeps, from Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Pulmonary adiaspiromycosis due to Emmonsia crescens was diagnosed in three of six Franklin's ground squirrels (Spermophilus franklini) captured in Rochester, central Alberts, Canada in the summer of 1971, and in one of 240 pikas (Ochotona princeps) collected in southwestern Alberta in 1969. Granulomas measuring 0.5 to 1 mm in diameter were found in both lungs. These granulomas contained adiaspores measuring 60 to 400 mum in diameter. The disease was not found in six Franklin's ground squirrels collected in 1964, nor in 10 white-footed mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), one porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), and 270 snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) from the Rochester area. Lungs from an additional 17 hares from Alaska and 25 from New Brunswick and 96 pikas from Colorado were also examined but no adiaspores were found.