Candidiasis Caused by Candida albicans in the Forestomachs of a Calf

Abstract

An 86-day-old Japanese black calf reared at a farm in Gunma Prefecture died as a result of diarrhea. In the necropsy, a whitish yellow pseudomembrane was found on the mucosal surfaces of the rumen, reticulum and omasum. Histologically, severe neutrophil infiltration, marked parakeratosis and hyperkeratosis with numerous yeast-like fungi and pseudomycelia were seen on the mucous epithelium of the rumen, reticulum and omasum. The fungus was identified as Candida albicans based on morphological and immunohistochemical findings and a molecular biological analysis of a DNA sample obtained from the paraffin-embedded tissue of the rumen, reticulum and omasum lesions.