Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Blastomycosis infection in indoor cats in suburban Chicago
By Blondin, Nancy et al.·Published in Mycopathologia·2007·Bartlett Animal Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Blastomycosis in indoor cats: suburban Chicago, Illinois, USA.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Five indoor cats in suburban Chicago were diagnosed with blastomycosis, a serious fungal infection, between March and July 2005. All the cats lived indoors, with one having limited outdoor exposure. Despite thorough environmental testing, the source of the infection was not found, but it’s suspected that the cats may have contracted the fungus from their home environment. This unusual outbreak occurred during a period of lower-than-average rainfall, which might have played a role in the spread of the fungus. Treatment for blastomycosis typically involves antifungal medications, and early intervention is crucial for recovery.
People also search for: indoor cat blastomycosis symptoms · cat fungal infection treatment · why is my cat coughing · blastomycosis in cats treatment · cat respiratory problems indoor
Abstract
Blastomyces dermatitidis, the etiologic agent of blastomycosis, a potentially life-threatening systemic mycosis of humans and animals, is acquired from a yet incompletely defined environmental niche. There is controversy regarding the potential for contact with the fungus in or near one's home, particularly in urban areas. We investigated an outbreak of blastomycosis among five urban, indoor cats diagnosed at three veterinary clinics March 3-July 13, 2005, in suburban Chicago, Illinois, by owner interviews, site visits, environmental cultures for B. dermatitidis, GIS analysis, and analysis of local weather data. There were no environmental exposures common to the five cats that lived a median of 300 m from nearest body of water, in homes on a loam soil. Closest and farthest case home sites were 3.4 and 26.1 km, respectively. All cats were confined indoors except one cat that averaged 15 min/week in his backyard and was exposed to excavation. B. dermatitidis was not isolated from any of 60 environmental samples. The annualized incidence rate March through July 2005 among 6,761 cats in these practices was 178/100,000, compared to none in the previous 4 years, and 0.14/100,000 cat visits from a nationwide animal hospital registry. Precipitation January through June 2005 was 9.30 versus period mean of 14.05 +/- 1.69 inches the previous 4 years (P = 0.01). Circumstantial evidence suggests acquisition of B. dermatitidis from the home site environment in five cats. Relative drought may have contributed to an apparent outbreak of blastomycosis in this urban locale.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17262169/