Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Eye problems in cats with blastomycosis infection
By Morris, Jacob M et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2021·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Ocular findings in cats with blastomycosis: 19 cases (1978-2019).
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 35 cats diagnosed with blastomycosis, a fungal infection, showed that 19 of them had eye problems. Symptoms included inflammation in the eye and signs of blindness, with some cats having issues like uveitis and retinal detachment. The study highlighted that eye issues are common in cats with this infection, and it’s important for veterinarians to check the eyes of any cat suspected of having blastomycosis. Treatment details weren't specified, but recognizing these symptoms can help in managing the condition effectively.
People also search for: cat eye problems blastomycosis · cat blindness treatment · symptoms of blastomycosis in cats
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To document ocular findings in cats with blastomycosis. ANIMALS: 35 cats with blastomycosis. PROCEDURES: Medical records from 1978 through 2019 were reviewed to identify cats with confirmed Blastomyces infection. Cats were grouped as having or not having ocular involvement. Clinical signs, histopathologic findings, and response to treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: 21 of the 35 (60%) cats with confirmed blastomycosis had ocular abnormalities. Two of 21 cats with ocular abnormalities also had systemic hypertension and were excluded. Of the remaining 19 cats, 15 (79%) had bilateral ocular signs. Ten (53%) cats had inflammatory ocular lesions, and 9 (47%) had neuro-ophthalmic abnormalities. Six of the 19 (32%) cats appeared to be completely blind, and 5 (26%) appeared to be unilaterally blind. For the 10 cats with inflammatory ocular lesions, the most common lesions were anterior uveitis (9/20 eyes), active chorioretinitis (6/20 eyes), and retinal detachment (4/20 eyes). For the 9 cats with neuro-ophthalmic abnormalities, the most common abnormalities were a negative menace or tracking response (10/18 eyes) and negative pupillary light response (4/18 eyes). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that ocular involvement is common in cats with blastomycosis and that both inflammatory lesions and neuro-ophthalmic abnormalities can be seen. Blastomycosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis for cats with anterior uveitis, posterior segment inflammation, or neuro-ophthalmic abnormalities, and a complete ophthalmic examination should be performed in all cats with confirmed or suspected blastomycosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34936573/