Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline histoplasmosis treatment with fluconazole and exposure sources
By Reinhart, Jennifer M et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2012·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Feline histoplasmosis: fluconazole therapy and identification of potential sources of Histoplasma species exposure.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats diagnosed with a fungal infection called histoplasmosis were treated with either fluconazole or itraconazole, which is a more common but expensive medication. The study found that both treatments had similar success rates, suggesting that fluconazole could be a more affordable option for pet owners. Interestingly, some of the cats were strictly indoor pets, and potential sources of the fungal spores included potted plants and unfinished basements. This information can help owners understand where their cats might be exposed to this infection.
People also search for: cat histoplasmosis treatment · fluconazole for cats · indoor cat fungal infection sources
Abstract
Feline histoplasmosis is a systemic fungal infection often treated with itraconazole, which can be cost-prohibitive for some clients. Additionally, although the clinical disease in cats has been documented, sources of Histoplasma species spore exposure in cats have yet to be thoroughly investigated. The objectives of this study were to compare the outcomes of cats with histoplasmosis treated with fluconazole to those treated with itraconazole, and to evaluate possible sources of exposure for affected cats. Medical records from feline patients with confirmed histoplasmosis (n = 32) at Kansas State University were systematically reviewed and follow-up was performed by owner telephone interview. Cats treated with fluconazole (n = 17) had similar mortality and recrudescence rates when compared with cats treated with itraconazole (n = 13). Thus, fluconazole may be a viable alternative therapy for the treatment of feline histoplasmosis. Eleven cats were housed strictly indoors and possible sources of exposure reported for these cats included potted plants (5/11) and unfinished basements (6/11).
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22736675/