Systemic Candidiasis of a Wild Slaty-Backed Gull (Larus schistisagus) in Jeju, Korea

Systemic Candidiasis of a Wild Slaty-Backed Gull (Larus schistisagus) in Jeju, Korea

A young slaty-backed gull was found dead nearby Seongsan harbor, Seogwipo-si, Jeju. Grossly, focal ulceration and a protuberant nodule were observed in intermediated zone between proventriculus and gizzard. Numerous discrete or confluent white-yellowish nodules were scattered on the surface of liver. Caudal portion of left kidney was replaced by a white-yellowish nodule. Three raised masses were observed in the spleen. Histologically, there were severe ulceration with hemorrhage in the gizzard and multifocal granulomatous inflammations in liver, kidney, spleen, and lungs. Pink to dark-red, round to oval fungal spores and pseudohyphae in granulomatous lesions were confirmed by periodic acid-Schiff stain. Candida albicans were isolated from the lesions of liver, kidney, spleen and gizzard using fungal culture and confirmed by VITEK 2 system. Based on the gross, histopathological findings, and fungal examination, this case was diagnosed as systemic candidiasis of a wild slaty-backed gull. In our best knowledge, this is the first report for systemic candidiasis characterized by multifocal granulomatous lesions in internal organs of a wild gull in Korea.