Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Is terbinafine a good treatment for cat sporotrichosis
By Viana, Paula Gonçalves et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2024·Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Is terbinafine an effective treatment for feline sporotrichosis?
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats with sporotrichosis, a fungal skin infection, were treated with terbinafine, a medication commonly used for similar infections in humans. Out of 30 cats that completed the treatment, only 10 showed improvement after an average of 18.5 weeks, while 18 did not respond and two sadly passed away. Many cats experienced side effects, including elevated liver enzymes. Overall, the study suggests that terbinafine may not be a reliable treatment for sporotrichosis in cats.
People also search for: cat skin infection treatment · sporotrichosis in cats · terbinafine side effects in cats
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Terbinafine has been successfully used in the treatment of human sporotrichosis; however, its effectiveness in the treatment of feline sporotrichosis is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the use of terbinafine in the treatment of feline sporotrichosis. METHODS: A cohort study was conducted in cats with sporotrichosis to assess the effectiveness and safety of terbinafine (30‒60 mg/kg/day). Clinical examination and analysis of laboratory parameters were performed monthly until clinical signs resolved or terbinafine treatment was discontinued. RESULTS: Of the 54 cats with sporotrichosis included in the study, 19 were lost during follow-up and five were withdrawn from the study due to switching to treatment with another prescription drug. Of the remaining 30 cats, 10 achieved clinical cure, with a median treatment time of 18.5 weeks. Treatment failed in 18 cases, and two cats died. Twenty-two cats had adverse reactions to terbinafine treatment, and 10 cats showed elevation of serum transaminases. LIMITATION: Loss during follow-up was high, which makes it difficult to draw accurate conclusions regarding clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: The low rate of clinical cure observed suggests that terbinafine does not represent an effective treatment option for cases of feline sporotrichosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39148234/