UvA

A novel fungal species is described originating from the left occipital lobe of the cerebrum of an 18-month-old spayed female cat in Australia. Neurological disorder of the animal became apparent by circling movements and uncoordinated behaviour. Sequencing of the SSU rRNA gene reveals this strain as belonging to the genus Fonsecaea in Chaetothyriales. This order includes many black yeasts and relatives known as etiologic agents of disease in humans and animals, including several neurotropic species. Novelty of the species was corroborated by morphology and by multilocus sequencing of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and partial sequences of the β-tubulin (BT2) and translation elongation factor (TEF1) genes. The strain is very similar to several strains recovered by a selective isolation technique from the natural environment in Brazil.