Fusarium solani hyalohyphomycosis in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta): A diagnostic and therapeutical challenge

Fusarium spp. are pathogens plants, animals and humans, isolated from soil, plants and water systems. They are distributed worldwide and include saprotrophic, biotrophic-pathogenic or endophytic fungi, or producers of mycotoxins (fumonisins). Human isolates are becoming the leading mycosis affecting immunocompromised patients and frequently involved in mycoses of aquatic mammals and reptiles, included sea turtles or their eggs. Here reported are three severe cases of unusual localizations of Fusarium in loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) and their diagnostic, therapeutic and clinical output. In the clinical practice, correct genus-level identification of Fusarium species is critically important to enable correct treatment as in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing is mandatory for each Fusarium-like isolate. For this reason, susceptibility testing can significantly help the practitioner in choosing the most appropriate therapeutic protocol.