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Deadly Fungus Found in Wild Animals
18 Jun
Summary
- Deadly fungus sporotrichosis detected in wild mammals, birds, and reptiles.
- Fungus found in internal organs, including heart and liver, of animals.
- High body temperatures do not protect birds from this pathogenic fungus.
A dangerous fungus responsible for sporotrichosis, a disease causing severe lesions in cats and potentially humans, is now suspected to be circulating widely among South American wildlife. Researchers discovered DNA of the fungus within the internal organs, including the heart and liver, of mammals, birds, and reptiles that died on Brazilian roads between 2017 and 2023.
This discovery indicates that wild animals may serve as new reservoirs for the pathogen, expanding its known host range to include reptiles and diverse bird species. The findings also challenge the long-held notion that high body temperatures in birds protect them from fungal infections. Scientists emphasize the urgent need for better disease surveillance to understand the full extent of this pathogen's spread and its potential risks to public and animal health.
