Isolation of Pichia burtonii from the feces of an enteritis bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps)

A 2-year-old bearded dragon was referred to the Veterinary Medical Center at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University with reduced activity and anorexia. On fecal examination, over growth of a bacteria and the proliferation of a yeast-like organism were found. The patient diagnosed with enteritis. By using fungal cultures and molecular typing, the yeast was identified as Pichia (P.) burtonii. The bearded dragon was treated with oral ketoconazole and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. After 3 days, the dragon was recovered and fecal examination showed that the yeast had disappeared from the feces. The strain P. burtonii is supposed opportunistic pathogen in bearded dragon with enteritis according to its reports in a human. This report is the first paper about overgrowth of P. burtonii in a bearded dragon.