Systemic zygomycosis in Bengal Florican (Eupotodis bengalensis)

A rescued female Bengal Florican from Manas National Park, Assam died in captivity without showing any specific clinical symptoms. Necropsy revealed several circumscribed raised necrotic lesions of varying sizes on the surface of the left diaphragmatic lobe of the lung. A patchy raised lesion on epicardium and few nodular lesions in peritoneum as well as in serosal surface of intestine were also noticed. Microscopic examination of the lung revealed extensive and multifocal necrotic areas surrounded by inflammatory cells. Within the necrotic areas, broad, basophilic, aseptate fungal hyphae indistinguishable from of Zygomycetes were noticed. The lesion on the epicardium was a fibrinous layer containing fibrinous exudates, bacterial colonies and fungal hyphae of Zygomycetes. The fungal hyphae were also observed in the nodules of the peritoneum and serosal surface of intestine. Based on the gross lesions and demonstration of broad, basophilic, aseptated fungal hyphae in different organs, the case was diagnosed as a case of systemic Zygomycetes infection. Available literature revealed that this is the first report of Zygomycetes infection in highly endangered Bengal Florican (E. bengalensis).