Cutaneous mucormycosis caused by Absidia corymbifera in a horse

A 5-year-old pregnant Spanish thoroughbred mare was presented with an exten sive granulomatous lesion, of four months duration, on the left medial fore leg. On examination, the wound was covered by a large mass of ulcerated gra nulation tissue exuding thick serosanguinous fluid. The mare had not respon ded to previous treatment. Physical examination revealed no fever, no lamen ess and the presence of intense pruritus. A surgical resection was carried out to take samples for histopathology. On histopathologic examination the dernis and subcutaneous tissue showed large multifocal necrotic eosinophili c areas and inside these areas, irregularly ramified fungal hyphae. Microbi ological examination showed abundant fungal growth and the strain correspon ded to Absidia corymbifera. Treatment with amphotericin B was started but t here was no improvement in the lesion. The mare aborted, became anorexic, h ad febrile episodes, had very poor body condition and was euthanized.