Epidemiology and symptoms of conidiobolomycosis in sheep in the State of Piaui, Brazil

Conidiobolomycosis is reported in 25 farms, from January 2002 to December 2004, in the state of Piaui. The disease affects only sheep, mainly in April-June. The mean morbidity rate was 2.80%, but was higher in the first semester (2.1%), during the raining period, than in the second one (0.69%.), during the dry period. Morbidity rate among flocks varied from 0.1-14.3%. Case fatality rate was 100%, and the clinical manifestation period varied from 1-5 weeks. Clinical signs were serous, mucous and/or bloody nasal secretion, respiratory distress, snoring respiration, cranium-facial asymmetry, exophthalmia, fever and progressive emaciation. Marked depression, sometimes with the head down or head pressing was observed in some cases. Gross, microscopic and ultrastructural lesions and identification of the agent are reported elsewhere. This is the first report of conidiobolomycosis in Brazil, which is endemic and has a high frequency in sheep in the State of Piaui, associated with high rainfalls (1000-1600mm annually) and high temperature (19-36 degrees C).