A Case of Feline Sporotrichosis

Abstract

ABSTRACT. We excised surgically a feline granulomatous lesion and performed histopathological, mycological and molecular examinations. As a result, it was diagnosed as sporotrichosis, which was the second recorded case of a cat so afflicted in Japan. After the operation, we recognized another nodule on the lymph node. Histopathological examination was therefore performed, but no fungi were detected. To prevent recurrence, the cat was administered a antimycotic drug, itraconazole. As a result, no recurrence was found. Excision of the lesion is the treatment of choice for feline sporotrichosis. KEY WORDS: feline, itraconazole, sporotrichosis.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 68(3): 283-284, 2006 Fungi are widespread in the environment and not usually harmful to healthy animals. However, the number of mycosis cases has recently increased in animals in which the immunity has been decreased by antineoplastic drugs or immunosuppressive drugs. A report has indicated the zoonotic potential of some animal fungi around the world [9]. Sporotrichosis is caused by the dimorphic fungus, Sporothrix schenckii. There have been many reports of infections in horses, cats and humans [2,5,7]. Sporothrix schenckii is isolated from soils, sphagnum moss and tree bark. It infects animals and humans through a puncture wound. Sporotrichosis can be divided into three clinical forms: cutaneolymphatic, cutaneous, and disseminated [3]. In Japan there have been many cases of sporotrichosis in humans, but only one case report of feline sporotrichosis [8].This case was a 2-year-old male mongrel house cat with free outdoor access, weighing 5.4 kg, which had been treated for skin abscesses. This cat was referred to Gifu University Teaching Animal Hospital with a subcutaneous nodule on the right hind leg, which had gradual growth. The cat was in good general condition. A nodule was recognized near the main pad on the right hind leg. We excised it surgically under general anesthesia. The nodule, 18 × 15 × 6 mm in size, was brown and smooth, and was well-demarcated (Fig. 1). The histopathological finding indicated many yeast-like cells with granulomatous inflammation (Fig. 2), so culture and molecular examinations were performed for the biopsy material from the nodule. As a result, the isolate was identified as S. schenckii. And the case was diagnosed as sporotrichosis by S. schenckii-specific polymerase chain reaction analyses, too [6].Nine days after the operation, we recognized another nodule on the right popliteal lymph node. We excised it surgically, but no fungi were detected in it. According to the diagnosis of sporotrichosis, 34 days after the operation, the cat was administered itraconazole (15 mg/kg once daily, per os) to avoid recurrences. After 50 postoperative days, we also recognized another nodule on the left popliteal lymph node, and performed a fine needle aspiration biopsy because there was a possibility of metastasis. However it was not diagnosed. At 69 days postoperation, the left popliteal lymph node showed a slight decrease in size, but the ...

Sporotrichosis: a retrospective evaluation of 23 cases seen in northern California (1987–2007)

“…The clinical manifestations of sporotrichosis in the cats in this study were consistent with those in the literature 2,15,36–39 . Ten of 14 (71%) cats had either the cutaneous‐lymphatic or disseminated form of the disease.…”

Response to azolic antifungal agents for treating feline sporotrichosis

“…Reports on the use of itraconazole for feline sporotrichosis treatment, either in isolation or in association with other methods, are promising (Fernandes and others 2004, Schubach and others 2004, Pereira and others 2005, Corgozinho and others 2006, Gremião and others 2006, Hirano and others 2006, Jesus and Marques 2006). …”

Sporothrix schenckii and Sporotrichosis

“…The role of felines in the transmission of the mycosis has gained attention since the 1980s, when Read and Sperling (191) reported an outbreak involving five people exposed to a cat with sporotrichosis. Since then, successive reports from different geographical regions have characterized a new risk group for acquisition of sporotrichosis, composed of on May 11, 2018 by guest http://cmr.asm.org/ cat owners and veterinarians (98,269). The first epidemic of zoonotic sporotrichosis was detected in Rio de Janeiro (17,222).…”