Equine nasopharyngeal cryptococcoma due to Cryptococcus gattii/Criptocoma nasofaringeo equino devido a Cryptococcus gattii

Cryptococcus gattii is often associated with pulmonary and systemic infections in humans and animals. In this research we report a case of nasopharyngeal cryptococoma caused by C. gatti in an equine. A 10-year-old mare presented a mass obstructing the oropharynx. Macroscopically the mass was asymmetric, and was attached to the ethmoidal sinuses and obstructed the oropharynx. Histopathological examination of the mass revealed multiple yeast cells ranging from spherical to oval, 4-8ym in diameter, with some of them showing narrow base polar budding. Cryptococcus gattii growth in mycological culture (Sabouraud Dextrose Agar) and was L-canavanine-glycine-bromothymol blue Agar positive. The molecular identification confirmed the isolate as C. gattii by means of the amplification of universal primers. C. gattii is considered an emerging fungal agent, as it affects human and animals and does not respond efficiently to commonly established treatments. Key words: mycotic diseases, crytococcosis, equine, PCR, Cryptococcus gattii. Cryptococcus gattii e frequentemente associada a infeccoes pulmonares e sistemicas em humanos e animais. Neste relato descrevese um caso de criptococoma nasofaringeo por C. gatti em um equino. Uma egua de 10 anos, apresentou uma massa obstruindo a orofaringe. Macroscopicamente a massa era assimetrica, e estava aderida aos seios etmoidais obstruindo a orofaringe. O exame histopatologico da massa revelou multiplas celulas leveduriformes variando de esfericas a ovais, de 4-8ym de diametro, com algumas delas apresentando brotacao polar de base estreita. Cryptococcus gattii foi isolado na cultura micologica (Agar sabouraud dextrose) e foi positivo no Agar L-canavaninaglicina-azul de bromotimol. A identificacao molecular confirmou o isolado como C. gattii por meio da amplificacao de primers universais. O diagnostico de criptococoma por C. gattii nasofaringeo foi baseado nos sinais clinicos, achados macroscopicos, lesoes histologicas, cultura micologica e Reacao em Cadeia da Polimerase. O C. gattii e considerado um agente fungico emergente, pois acometendo humanos e animais, nao respondendo com eficiencia aos tratamentos comumente estabelecidos. Palavras-chave: doencas micoticas, criptococose, equideos, PCR, Cryptococcus gattii.