Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How well cytopathology detects sporotrichosis in cats
By Pereira, Sandro A et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2011·Laborató, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Sensitivity of cytopathological examination in the diagnosis of feline sporotrichosis.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats with skin lesions was examined for sporotrichosis, a fungal infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii. Out of 806 cats, yeast-like structures indicating the presence of the fungus were found in 636 cases, showing that cytopathological examination (a method of looking at cells under a microscope) was effective about 79% of the time. This method is practical and cost-effective, making it a reliable option for veterinarians to diagnose this infection in cats. Treatment typically involves antifungal medications, which can help clear the infection.
People also search for: cat skin lesions · sporotrichosis treatment in cats · fungal infection in cats
Abstract
Sporotrichosis is caused by Sporothrix schenckii. The cat is the animal species most affected by this mycosis and plays an important role in the zoonotic transmission of this disease. The definitive diagnosis is made by isolation of the fungus in culture; however, cytopathological examination is frequently used in cats. Medical records from cats treated at Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between 2004 and 2006 were reviewed. Criteria for inclusion were a diagnosis by isolation of S schenckii in culture and cytopathological examination of the same lesion as that used for collection of the culture material. Eight hundred and six cats were included in the study. Yeast-like structures suggestive of S schenckii were observed in 636 cases. The sensitivity of the method was 78.9%. Its practicality, low cost and sensitivity validate cytopathology as a safe technique for the presumptive diagnosis of sporotrichosis in cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21131220/