Coccidioides posadasii keratouveitis in a llama (Lama glama)

Abstract

A 7-year-old male llama was examined for a 3-month history of weight loss, and unilateral keratouveitis. Clinical examination revealed nonulcerative corneal stromal abscessation, corneal vascularization, corneal edema, miosis, posterior synechia, cataract, and fibrin in the anterior chamber of the right eye. The left eye was normal. Histopathology of the right eye following enucleation revealed pyogranulomatous keratouveitis with intralesional fungal spherules consistent with Coccidioides spp. PCR amplification with DNA sequencing confirmed Coccidioides posadasii infection. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of ocular coccidioidomycosis in a llama. © 2010 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.