Fatal Pulmonary Penicillosis in Camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Aim: The present study was conducted to investigate the cause of death associated with lung abscesses of dead dromedary camels.
Materials and Methods: Lung biopsy was examined by culturing onto Sabouraud's dextrose agar (SDA) media supplemented with chloramphenicol. Colony developed was microscopically examined using lactophenol cotton blue. Slide culture was performed to identify the isolated fungus. Histopathological study of lung biopsy using Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and Methenamine silver (Grocott's modification) (GMS) stains was carried to detect the pathological feature and fungal hyphae in lung tissue. The isolate was initially identified by conventional morphological analysis; and confirmed by molecular analysis after amplification of the β-tubulin gene, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of the amplicons.
Results: Penicillium citrinum was isolated from lung biopsy of sacrificed dromedary camels. Molecular technique confirmed its identification. Histology of nodular lung lesion showing granulomatous inflammation (H&E) and fungal mycelia on GMS.
Conclusion: The study revealed the first case of P. citrinum isolation from the lung of camel with pulmonary disease.