Scedosporium apiospermum: An Emerging yet Overlooked Fungal Pathogen in Veterinary Medicine—A Case-Based Review

Abstract

Scedosporium apiospermum is an emerging filamentous fungus of increasing clinical relevance in human and veterinary medicine. Previously regarded as a ubiquitous soil saprophyte, it is now recognized as an opportunistic pathogen causing a wide spectrum of localized and systemic infections, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. Although infections in animals are considered rare, they are likely underdiagnosed or misidentified as aspergillosis or fusariosis due to overlapping clinical features and morphological similarities. The first confirmed animal isolate of S. apiospermum in the Western Balkans, identified in 2024 from the milk of a cow with clinical mastitis, highlights the need for increased awareness and accurate diagnostic approaches for this neglected pathogen in veterinary practice. This review outlines key information on S. apiospermum infections in animals, including routes of infection, predisposing factors, clinical and pathological features, laboratory diagnostic principles, and antifungal susceptibility profiles of animal-derived isolates. Additionally, we present a chronologically organized, tabulated overview of documented cases of scedosporiosis in domestic animals, highlighting the diversity of affected species and the variability in treatment outcomes. This review aims to support early recognition, facilitate differential diagnosis, and contribute to improved management of S. apiospermum infections in veterinary practice.