Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Blood test to diagnose sporotrichosis fungal infection in cats
By Fernandes, Geisa Ferreira et al.·Published in Veterinary microbiology·2011·Universidade Federal de Sã, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Serodiagnosis of sporotrichosis infection in cats by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a specific antigen, SsCBF, and crude exoantigens.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats with sporotrichosis, a fungal infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii, were tested using a new blood test called ELISA to see if it could accurately detect the infection. The test showed high accuracy, identifying 90% of infected cats and 96% of healthy cats correctly. This new test is quick, affordable, and easy for veterinarians to use, making it a helpful tool for diagnosing this infection in cats. With better diagnosis, treatment can be started sooner, helping affected cats recover more effectively.
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Abstract
The main objective of this study is to standardize an ELISA for the diagnosis of feline sporotrichosis. Sporothrix schenckii is the etiological agent of human and animal sporotrichosis. Cats may act as reservoirs for S. schenckii and can transmit the infection to humans by a bite or scratch. There are few methods for the serological diagnosis of fungal diseases in animals. In this paper, an ELISA test for the diagnosis of cat sporotrichosis is proposed, which detects S. schenckii-specific antibodies in feline sera. Two different kinds of antigens were used: "SsCBF", a specific molecule from S. schenckii that consists of a Con A-binding fraction derived from a peptido-rhamnomannan component of the cell wall, and a S. schenckii crude exoantigen preparation. The ELISA was developed, optimized, and evaluated using sera from 30 cats with proven sporotrichosis (by culture isolation); 22 sera from healthy feral cats from a zoonosis center were used as negative controls. SsCBF showed 90% sensitivity and 96% specificity in ELISA; while crude exoantigens demonstrated 96% sensitivity and 98% specificity. The ELISA assay described here would be a valuable screening tool for the detection of specific S. schenckii antibodies in cats with sporotrichosis. The assay is inexpensive, quick to perform, easy to interpret, and permits the diagnosis of feline sporotrichosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20708355/