Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline histoplasmosis signs and outcomes in 22 cats
By Aulakh, Harmeet K et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2012·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Feline histoplasmosis: a retrospective study of 22 cases (1986-2009).
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 22 cats diagnosed with histoplasmosis, a fungal infection, showed symptoms like weakness, weight loss, and loss of appetite. Most of these cats were around 9 years old, with female domestic shorthairs being the most affected. While some had breathing issues, many presented with vague symptoms that made diagnosis challenging. The cats were treated with itraconazole, an antifungal medication, for an average of five months. About 55% of the cats survived and were discharged after treatment.
People also search for: cat histoplasmosis symptoms · cat weight loss and weakness · itraconazole for cats treatment
Abstract
Twenty-two cases of feline histoplasmosis seen at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital between 1986 and 2009 were reviewed. The median age of affected cats was 9 yr (mean, 8.8 yr). Female domestic shorthairs were more commonly affected. The clinical presentation of most cases was nonspecific. The most common presenting complaints included weakness, lymphadenopathy, weight loss, and anorexia. Less frequent clinical signs included vomiting, diarrhea, blindness, and lameness. Less than half of the cats had clinical evidence of pulmonary disease on admission. Anemia and hypoalbuminemia were common laboratory abnormalities. An interstitial pattern was the most common radiographic pattern observed with pulmonary disease. Diagnosis was based on identification of the organism on cytology or histopathology. Fifteen of the 22 cats were treated, and itraconazole was the most common antifungal agent prescribed. Median duration of the antifungal treatment was 5 mo for cats that survived to discharge. Overall survival at time of discharge for cats in this study was 55%.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22474046/