Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline sporotrichosis skin lesions and diagnosis in the Brazilian
By Nayara Fátima Lazameth-Diniz et al.·Published in Animals·2025·Laboratory of Mycology, Coordination of Society, Environment and Health, National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), Manaus 69067-375, AM, Brazil, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Clinical and Molecular Characterization of Feline Sporotrichosis in the Brazilian Amazon: PCR-Based Identification of <i>Sporothrix brasiliensis</i>
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of young male cats in the Brazilian Amazon were diagnosed with sporotrichosis, a fungal infection that can also affect humans. Most of these cats, aged 1 to 3 years, showed skin lesions on their noses, ears, and faces. Researchers found that the best way to identify the fungus was through a specific DNA testing method. The cats were treated with antifungal medications, and tests showed that ketoconazole and itraconazole were effective at low doses. This study highlights the importance of diagnosing and treating this infection in both pets and humans.
People also search for: cat skin lesions treatment · feline sporotrichosis symptoms · antifungal medication for cats
Abstract
Sporotrichosis is a zoonotic fungal infection with increasing incidence in the Brazilian Amazon, primarily affecting domestic cats and posing risks to human health. This study characterized the clinical and epidemiological profiles of 29 feline sporotrichosis cases in Manaus and optimized molecular diagnostic methods for <i>Sporothrix</i> species identification. Most affected cats were young (86.2% aged 1–3 years), male (82.7%), and free-roaming or semi-indoor (44.8% each), frequently presenting cutaneous lesions localized at the nasal planum (23.3%), ears (7%), eyes (2.3%) and other facial areas (18.6%). Three DNA extraction methods were compared; the phenol–chloroform protocol yielded the highest DNA concentration and purity, and <i>ITS1</i>–<i>ITS4</i> primers showed an adequate sensibility for PCR detection. In silico RFLP profiles using common restriction enzymes showed limited discriminatory power among <i>Sporothrix</i> species. <i>ITS</i> sequencing of four high-quality amplicons confirmed all isolates as <i>Sporothrix brasiliensis</i>. Antifungal susceptibility testing of all isolates revealed geometric mean MICs of 0.25 µg/mL for ketoconazole, 0.57 µg/mL for itraconazole, 7.27 µg/mL for amphotericin B, and 64 µg/mL for fluconazole, respectively. These findings provide clinical, molecular, and therapeutic information supporting the diagnosis and surveillance of feline sporotrichosis in the Amazon, reinforcing the need for ongoing veterinary and public health monitoring.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15152318