Cryptococcosis in a Somali Treated with Itraconazole Pulse Therapy

Abstract

A-6-year-old, female, Somali was presented with erosive nodule on the entrance to the left ear canal and subcutaneous swelling at the left parotid region. The cat was treated with antimicrobials, then skin biopsy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed numerous round or oval, PAS-positive, yeast-like organisms, and Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated with fungal culture. This cat was diagnosed as having cryptococcosis, and treated with once daily oral itraconazole (ICZ) 7 mg/kg. Two months later, skin lesions were disappeared, but serum cryptococcal antigen was still positive after consecutive 4 months ICZ administration.Then ICZ pulse therapy was carried out for next 6 months, and finally conduced the antigen negative.