Fungi associated with the skin of a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) from South Africa
Date
2010-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis group
Abstract
Cutaneous fungi are known to affect parts of the outermost skin layers of mammals, including the epidermis, stratum spinosum
and stratum corneum, as well as mucocutaneous membranes, genitalia or external ears. Relatively little is known about fungal
infections of Mysticete cetaceans and studies are needed to determine the fungal diversity associated with these marine
mammals. This case report was aimed at identifying the fungi associated with the skin of a diseased neonatal southern right
whale (Eubalaena australis) found stranded in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Initial physical examination on
site revealed hyperplasia of the follicular and epidermal epithelium. Preliminary examination of skin biopsies using scanning
electron microscopy indicated that the skin was colonized by fungal hyphae. Isolation methods yielded a number of fungal
isolates, which were identified using standard morphology and rDNA sequence data. These analyses confirmed colonization of
the cutaneous layers by species belonging to the genera Fusarium, Chaetomium and Penicillium. Moreover, all isolates
were capable of degrading keratin, indicating that skin may act as a natural substrate for these fungi. This study is the first
report of the association of these fungi with southern right whale skin.
Description
CITATION: Reeb, D. et al. 2010, Fungi associated with the skin of a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) from South Africa, Mycology, 1(3), 155-162, doi:10.1080/21501203.2010.492531.
The original publication is available at http://www.tandfonline.com/
The original publication is available at http://www.tandfonline.com/
Keywords
Cutaneous fungi, Fusarium, Chaetomium, Penicillium
Citation
Reeb, D. et al. 2010, Fungi associated with the skin of a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) from South Africa, Mycology, 1(3), 155-162, doi:10.1080/21501203.2010.492531.