Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cats with sporotrichosis skin lesions treated with itraconazole
By de Souza, Elaine Waite et al.·Published in Scientific reports·2018·Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical features, fungal load, coinfections, histological skin changes, and itraconazole treatment response of cats with sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 52 cats with skin lesions caused by a fungal infection called sporotrichosis were treated with itraconazole, an antifungal medication. After up to 36 weeks of treatment, 37 of the cats (about 71%) showed significant improvement and were considered cured. However, cats with nasal lesions and respiratory issues were less likely to respond well to treatment. Additionally, younger cats with a higher fungal load in their skin lesions tended to heal more slowly and had a poorer response to the medication. Overall, itraconazole was effective, but certain factors like nasal involvement and high fungal levels could indicate a tougher case.
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Abstract
Zoonotic sporotrichosis caused by the fungus Sporothrix brasiliensis is usually severe in cats. This study investigated the associations between clinical features, fungal load, coinfections, histological skin changes, and response to itraconazole in cats with sporotrichosis caused by S. brasiliensis. Fifty-two cats with skin lesions and a definitive diagnosis of sporotrichosis were treated with itraconazole for a maximum period of 36 weeks. The animals were submitted to clinical examination and two subsequent collections of samples from the same skin lesion for fungal diagnosis and histopathology, as well as serology for feline immunodeficiency (FIV) and leukaemia (FeLV) viruses. Thirty-seven (71%) cats were clinically cured. Nasal mucosa lesions and respiratory signs were associated with treatment failure. Cats coinfected with FIV/FeLV (n = 12) had a lower neutrophil count in the lesion. A high fungal load in skin lesions was linked to young age and treatment failure, as well as to a longer time of wound healing, poorly formed granulomas and fewer neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes in these lesions. These results indicate that itraconazole is effective, but nasal mucosal involvement, respiratory signs and high fungal loads in skin lesions are predictors of treatment failure that will assist in the development of better treatment protocols for cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29899416/