Feline sporotrichosis in an urban setting in northeastern Brazil: clinical and epidemiological aspects in a Municipal Veterinary Hospital

Abstract

Abstract Feline sporotrichosis is an emerging zoonotic mycosis of major relevance in urban areas of Brazil, with cats playing a central role in disease maintenance and transmission. This study aimed to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of feline sporotrichosis cases treated at the Municipal Veterinary Hospital of São Luís (HVM-SLZ), Maranhão, Brazil, between June 2024 and July 2025. An observational, descriptive, and retrospective study was conducted based on the analysis of 111 medical records of cats with suspected or confirmed sporotrichosis. Epidemiological and clinical variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Most affected animals were male, aged 1–6 years, non-neutered, and had free access to the outdoor environment. Lesions were predominantly disseminated, mainly involving the head and limbs, and about one third of the animals presented respiratory signs. Diagnosis was based exclusively on clinical criteria in more than half of the cases, while clinical evaluation combined with cytology was used in a substantial proportion. Most animals were referred for home treatment, whereas a considerable proportion had euthanasia indicated and a small fraction died. Cases were widely distributed across different neighborhoods, indicating broad urban dissemination. In conclusion, feline sporotrichosis in São Luís shows a pattern of wide urban spread, predominantly affecting non-neutered cats with outdoor access and frequently presenting as disseminated cutaneous disease, reinforcing the need to strengthen laboratory diagnosis and integrated One Health surveillance strategies.