Fungal Pathogens in Animal Health

Fungal pathogens represent a significant and often under-recognised challenge to animal health, affecting a broad spectrum of hosts from livestock and companion animals to wildlife and aquatic species. These infections range from superficial dermatitis and respiratory disease to invasive systemic mycoses with high morbidity and mortality. The factors driving emergence and spread include environmental change, agricultural practices, antimicrobial use and the growing interface between wildlife, domestic animals and human populations. Pathogens such as Candida, Aspergillus and emerging yeasts exploit breaches in host immunity or disruptions in the microbiome to establish infection. The capacity of some fungi to form biofilms and acquire resistance to frontline antifungal agents further complicates treatment and control. A One Health perspective is essential to understand the interconnected dynamics of these organisms and to develop integrated strategies that protect animal welfare, safeguard food production and mitigate zoonotic risk.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have elucidated the eco-epidemiological role of wildlife in the dissemination of opportunistic fungal agents. For instance, genotypic analysis of Candida glabrata strains isolated from yellow-legged gulls and clinical human cases revealed a lack of population structure and an even distribution of antifungal-resistant genotypes across avian and human hosts. These findings demonstrate that wild birds serve as reservoirs and vectors for drug-resistant yeast lineages, facilitating environmental contamination and indirect transmission to animal and human populations. This work emphasises the need for integrated surveillance of fungal pathogens in both wildlife and clinical settings to mitigate the spread of antifungal resistance.

Fungal Pathogens in Animal Health publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in fungal pathogens in animal health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Candidemia: The presence of Candida species in the bloodstream, indicating systemic infection.

Opportunistic pathogen: A microorganism that causes disease predominantly in hosts with weakened immune defences.

Antifungal resistance: The reduced susceptibility of fungal strains to standard antifungal agents, leading to treatment failure.

Eco-epidemiology: The study of interactions between pathogens, hosts and environmental factors that influence disease transmission.

Fungicide: A chemical agent applied to control or prevent fungal growth, often in agricultural contexts.

Biofilm: A structured community of microbial cells encased in an extracellular matrix, often associated with enhanced resistance to antifungal therapies.

References

1. Opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida glabrata circulates between humans and yellow-legged gulls. Scientific Reports (2016).
2. Hazards Associated with the Combined Application of Fungicides and Poultry Litter in Agricultural Areas. Journal of Xenobiotics (2024).
3. Emergence of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa among pet animals: a possible public health risk on the move. BMC Microbiology (2025).
4. Disseminated Candidiasis and Candidemia Caused by Candida palmioleophila in a Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas). Animals (2021).