Phycomycosis (zygomycosis)

Zygomycosis (previously known phycomycosis) involves fungi belonging to genera Mucor, Rhizopus, Absidia, Entomophthora, Mortierella and Basidiobolous. Entomopthora coronata was reported in case of cutaneous mycoses in a mare. Histoptahologically, non-septate branching hyphae were seen in affected tissue in gastritis in piglets, bovines, abomasitis in goat, abortion in a cow. Mortierela wolffii is a cause of bovine abortion. Absidia, Mucor and Rhizopus spp. are commonly associated with abomasal ulcers in ruminants and gastric ulcer in swine. Disease manifestations by Zygomycetes include cutaneous lesions, abortion, gastrointestinal infection, mastitis, pneumonia and disseminated disease.

The diagnosis can be made by examination of clinical sample stained with lactophenol blue and by isolation of the fungus on Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar medium.