Fatal adiaspiromycosis in a wild Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra)

Postmortem examination of an immature otter which died in the wild showed t hat large areas of the lungs were swollen and firm, with emphysema and haem orrhage in the remaining areas. Histopathological examination revealed larg e numbers of fungal adiaspores and an unusually severe inflammatory respons e. It was considered that respiratory impairment was the primary cause of t he otter's death.