Feline sporotrichosis was evident in subclinical to severe forms; however, cats can respond well to regular and prolonged antifungal treatment.

The effectiveness and safety of treatment with ketoconazole and itraconazole were compared in 773 sporotrichosis-infected cats over a four-year period (2002 to 2005). Five hundred and ninety-eight cats received oral ketoconazole and 175 received oral itraconazole. Treatment was successful in 238 (30.8 per cent) cats, of which 171 (28.6 per cent) of 598 received 13.5 to 27.0 mg/kg/day ketoconazole and 67 (38.3 per cent) of 175 received 8.3 to 27.7 mg/kg/day itraconazole. Adverse effects were reported in 306 (39.6 per cent) of the cats, 105 (13.6 per cent) died and 430 (55.6 per cent) dropped out of treatment or were still under treatment at the time of data analysis.

A sporotichosis epidemic involving forty-four dogs in the Metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro is described. Solitary skin lesions were noted in 18 dogs (40.9%), 2-4 such lesions were observed in 17 animals (38.6%), and nine (20.5%) animals had five or more lesions. Twenty-five (56.8%) animals had single ulcerated skin lesions on the nose and nine (20.5%) showed nasal mucosal involvement (three of which also has a skin lesion). Respiratory symptoms were observed in 17 (38.6%) dogs and were found to be the most common extracutaneous signs of infection. Anemia, leukocytosis with neutrophilia, hypoalbuminemia and hyperglobulinemia were the most frequent hematological abnormalities. Histopathological analysis of skin biopsies in most cases revealed granulomatous reactions characterized by histiocytic hyperplasia and neutrophil infiltration. Yeast-like cells were observed in seven (16.7%) of 42 dogs examined histologically. During the study, eight (18.2%) animals were lost to follow-up and three (6.8%) were submitted to euthanasia. Of the remaining 33 dogs, five (15.2%) presented spontaneous regression of the lesions, 26 (78.8%) were cured after treatment, and two (6%) continue to be treated. The present cases indicate that many dogs with sporotrichosis respond well to treatment and in a few dogs, the disease may be self-limiting.

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.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the occurrence of Leishmania infantum in the male and female genital tract and female mammary glands of dogs and the parasite burden and to identify histological alterations associated with this protozoan. Twenty male and 20 female Leishmania-seropositive dogs with isolation of L. infantum were examined. Tissue samples of the prepuce, glans, epididymis, testes, prostate, vulva, vagina, uterus, uterine tubes, and mammary glands were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and histopathology. For parasitological culture and in situ hybridization, samples were collected from the testis, epididymis, and uterus. Additionally, seminal fluid was aspirated from the epididymis for parasitological culture. In the genital tract, 34 (85 %) dogs, including 18 males and 16 females, were positive for Leishmania. Of these, 27 (79 %) animals were symptomatic. Leishmania was detected in the mammary glands of 13 (65 %) females. L. infantum was isolated for the first time from the seminal fluid and uterus of naturally infected dogs. The parasite burden and intensity of the inflammatory reaction were greater in the prepuce and glans of males and in the vulva and mammary glands of females. In addition to inflammation, testicular degeneration, atrophy, absence of spermatogenesis, and necrosis were observed. Detection of amastigote forms in the mammary gland lumen indicates possible elimination of this parasite in milk. The frequent parasitism observed in the genital tract of infected males and females and the viability of L. infantum in seminal fluid and uterus suggest the possibility of bidirectional venereal and vertical transmission.

We describe the isolation of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis from two female cats with American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The isolates were identified as L. (V.) braziliensis by isoenzyme electrophoresis.

No abstract

An unknown Trypanosoma species was isolated from an axenic culture of intact skin from a domestic dog captured in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which was co-infected with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Giemsa-stained smears of cultures grown in different media revealed the presence of epimastigotes, trypomastigotes, spheromastigotes, transitional stages, and dividing forms (epimastigotes or spheromastigotes). The highest frequency of trypomastigotes was observed in RPMI (15.2%) and DMEM (9.2%) media containing 5% FCS, with a mean length of these forms of 43.0 and 36.0 mum, respectively. Molecular analysis by sequential application of PCR assays indicated that this trypanosome differs from Trypanosoma cruzi and T. rangeli when specific primers were applied. On the other hand, a PCR strategy targeted to the D7 domain of 24salpha rDNA, using primers D75/D76, amplified products of about 250 bp in that isolate (stock A-27), different from the amplification products obtained with T. cruzi and T. rangeli. This organism differs from T. cruzi mainly by the size of its trypomastigote forms and kinetoplasts and the absence of infectivity for macrophages and triatomine bugs. It is also morphologically distinct from salivarian trypanosomes reported in Brazil. Isoenzyme analysis at 8 loci demonstrated a very peculiar banding pattern clearly distinct from those of T. rangeli and T. cruzi. We conclude that this isolate is a new Trypanosoma species. The name T. caninum is suggested.