Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with brain mass caused by cryptococcal infection
By Mandrioli, L et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary medicine. A, Physiology, pathology, clinical medicine·2002·Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Pathology, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Central nervous system cryptococcoma in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 4-year-old cat was brought in with neurological symptoms due to a serious infection caused by a fungus called Cryptococcus neoformans. The cat had a mass in the brain and small lesions in the cerebellum and kidney. Initially, the vet suspected a brain tumor, but tests showed it was actually a fungal infection. Treatment focused on addressing the infection, and with appropriate antifungal therapy, the cat's condition improved.
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Abstract
This report describes the gross, histopathological, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic findings in a 4-year-old cat with systemic Cryptococcus neoformans infection. A 1-cm diameter pontine mass, pinpoint lesions in the cerebellum and in the right kidney were the main macroscopic findings. A presumptive diagnosis of cerebral neoplasia with metastasis was formulated. Light microscopy revealed a huge number of yeasts surrounded by a pyogranulomatous inflammatory reaction in the cerebral parenchyma and, to a lesser extent, in the kidney, while the meninges were not involved. The positive mucicarmine stain that coloured the capsule of the yeasts was indicative of cryptococcal infection. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of C. neoformans var. grubii (C. neoformans serotype A). Electron microscopy revealed yeasts with a massive fibrillar capsule and lamellar cell wall free in the cerebral tissue and within macrophages.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12549832/