Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cryptococcosis in cats and dogs - signs and treatment
By Malik, R et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·1997·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Nasopharyngeal cryptococcosis.
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old cat was brought in for snoring and breathing difficulties, which were caused by a fungal infection in the nasopharynx (the area behind the nose and throat). The vet diagnosed the issue using a special camera and found mass lesions causing the symptoms. To treat the infection, the vet removed the masses to relieve the cat's breathing problems and then prescribed antifungal medication to clear the infection completely. After treatment, the cat showed improvement in breathing and overall health.
People also search for: cat snoring and breathing problems · cat nasal mass treatment · cryptococcosis in cats · cat upper respiratory infection symptoms
Abstract
Naturally occurring cryptococcosis in five cats, a dog and a koala is described. Involvement of the nasopharynx was documented in all patients, and nasopharyngeal mass lesions accounted for the major presenting complaints in four. Signs referable to nasopharyngeal disease included snoring, stertor, inspiratory dyspnoea and aerophagia. Diagnoses were made by caudal rhinoscopy using a retroverted flexible endoscope, vigorous orthograde flushing with saline, or at necropsy. Concurrent cryptococcal rhinitis was present in all cases, although involvement appeared limited to the caudal nasal cavity in most cases. Typical signs of nasal cavity disease, such as sneezing and nasal discharge, were often absent. Treatment of nasopharyngeal cryptococcosis should include physical dislodgement or debulking of lesion(s) to provide immediate alleviation of upper airway obstruction, followed by systemic antifungal therapy to eliminate residual infection from the nasal cavity. Infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans var gattii accounted for a disproportionately large number of these cases.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9258419/