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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Cat with both eyes inflamed from Toxoplasma and fungal infection

By Pearce, J et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2007·Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, United States·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Management of bilateral uveitis in a Toxoplasma gondii-seropositive cat with histopathologic evidence of fungal panuveitis.

Species:
cat

Plain-English summary

A 5-year-old neutered male Domestic Short-haired cat was brought in for eye problems, including inflammation and cataracts in the right eye, which had been worsening for five months. Despite treatment with antibiotics and eye drops, the cat became blind, leading to the removal of the affected eye. Tests showed the cat had a Toxoplasma infection and a fungal infection in the eye. After starting a medication called itraconazole, the cat's vision returned after three months, and the eye condition improved significantly over six months. The cat has remained healthy and visual for six months after stopping the medication.

People also search for: cat eye problems · Toxoplasma gondii in cats · itraconazole for cat eye infection · cat cataract treatment · cat blindness recovery

Abstract

A 5-year-old, neutered male Domestic Short-haired cat was referred with a 5-month history of anterior uveitis and cataract in the right eye. Clinical examination confirmed anterior uveitis and immature cataract in the right eye and chorioretinitis in the left eye. Ocular ultrasound showed a retinal detachment in the right eye. Diagnostic testing revealed elevated serum titers for Toxoplasma gondii. Anterior uveitis in the right eye and chorioretinitis in the left eye progressed, resulting in blindness despite a 21-day course of clindamycin and aggressive topical medical management of uveitis. The right eye was enucleated and histopathologic evaluation of the globe revealed panuveitis and multiple organisms morphologically consistent with Histoplasma capsulatum. Systemic treatment with itraconazole was initiated. Vision returned after 3 months of treatment and complete resolution of the retinal hemorrhages with formation of a flat chorioretinal scar was noted after 6 months of therapy. Itraconazole was discontinued 7 months after starting therapy, at which time the funduscopic appearance of the chorioretinal scar had remained static for 1 month. The cat has remained visual without evidence of disease progression for 6 months following discontinuation of itraconazole.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17565553/