Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with nasal leishmaniosis and squamous cell carcinoma in Portugal
By C. Maia et al.·Published in JFMS open reports·2015·View original on Semantic Scholar →
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Original publication title: First case of feline leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum genotype E in a cat with a concurrent nasal squamous cell carcinoma
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A domestic cat in Portugal developed a skin lesion on its nose, which was later diagnosed as leishmaniosis caused by a specific type of parasite (Leishmania infantum genotype E). Initially, the cat was treated with allopurinol, but a year later, it presented with a more severe mass on its nose that caused destruction of the surrounding tissue. Further tests confirmed the presence of both the parasite and a nasal squamous cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer). This case highlights the importance of considering leishmaniosis in cats with skin issues, especially in areas where the disease is present in other animals.
People also search for: cat nose lesion treatment · leishmaniosis in cats · cat skin cancer symptoms · feline leishmaniosis diagnosis · cat nasal squamous cell carcinoma
Abstract
Case summary This is the first clinical report of feline viscerocutaneous leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum genotype E associated with an invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a domestic cat from Portugal. Initially, the cat presented a single cutaneous lesion in the right nostril. A fine-needle aspiration was performed and Leishmania amastigotes were observed without the presence of cells compatible with neoplasia. Systemic treatment with allopurinol was started. One year later, the cat presented a crateriform non-encapsulated and badly delineated mass in the nasal planum, with naso-oral fistulation and nasal destruction. Histologically, the skin mass consisted on an ulcerative plaque-like lesion with a nasal SCC. Leishmania infantum MON-1 parasites were detected by histopathology, culture and PCR of the skin mass, submandibular and popliteal lymph nodes, liver and spleen. Restriction enzyme analysis revealed genotype E, previously identified in humans and dogs living in the same region. Relevance and novel information This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first clinical report of feline viscerocutaneous leishmaniosis caused by L infantum genotype E. The detection and isolation of parasites from a cat that are genetically identical to the ones obtained from humans and dogs with visceral leishmaniosis highlights the need to clarify whether cats play a role in the epidemiology of this parasitic zoonosis. From a clinical point of view, this case reinforces the importance of including leishmaniosis in the differential diagnoses of feline pathology, especially in cats with cutaneous lesions.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Semantic Scholar: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/28491373