Dear Marmamers, These authors are pleased to announce the publication of two papers:
Reeb, D., Best, P.B., Botha, A., Cloete, K.J., Thornton, M. and Mouton, M. 2010. Fungi associated with the skin of a southern right whale (*Eubalaena australis*) from South Africa. Mycology. 1(3): 155-162. 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. Marnel M., Reeb, D., Botha, A. and Best, P.B. 2009. Yeast infection in a beached southern right whale (*Eubalaena australis*) neonate. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 45(3): 692-699. ABSTRACT: A female southern right whale (*Eubalaena australis*) neonate was found stranded on the Western Cape coast of southern Africa. Skin samples were taken the same day from three different locations on the animal’s body and stored at -20° C. Isolation through repetitive culture of these skin sections yielded a single yeast species, *Candida zeylanoides*. Total genomic DNA also was isolated directly from skin samples. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the Internal Transcribed Spacer region of the fungal ribosomal gene cluster revealed the presence of *Filobasidiella neoformans* var. *neoformans*, the teleomorphic state of *Cryptococcus neoformans*. Fungal infections in cetaceans seem to be limited when compared to infections caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites. However, *Candida* species appear to be the most common type of fungal infection associated with cetaceans. To our knowledge this is the first report of a *C. zeylanoides* infection in a mysticete, as well as the first report of a dual infection involving two opportunistic pathogenic yeast species in a cetacean. PDF copies are available from Drs Mouton ([email protected]) and Reeb ( [email protected]).
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