Focal pulmonary granuloma caused byCladophialophora bantianain a domestic short haired cat

Abstract

Following a 4-week history of coughing, a 12-year-old cat with a history of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was diagnosed with a pulmonary granuloma caused by Cladophialophora bantiana. Thoracic radiographs revealed consolidation of the right caudal lung lobe and cytology confirmed the presence of mycotic pneumonia. Results of clinical investigations showed no evidence of extra-pulmonary infection. A thoracotomy and lung lobe resection was performed. Histological examination of the mass revealed black pigmented fungal hyphae and pyogranulomatous inflammation. Cultures inoculated with portions of these tissues yielded a dark walled fungus consistent with an etiologic agent of phaeohyphomycosis and DNA sequencing confirmed the presence of Cladophialophora bantiana. The cat was treated with itraconazole for 4 weeks post-operatively and then with posaconazole for 7 months but was euthanized 13 months after initial diagnosis due to a hepatocellular carcinoma. On post-mortem examination there was no evidence of recurrent fungal infection. This is the first report of localized pulmonary C. bantiana infection in a cat.

Canine eumycetoma caused by Cladophialophora bantiana in a Maltese: case report and literature review

“…Cerebral phaeohyphomycosis is the most common and fatal form. It has been reported as a causative agent of cerebral infection 23,24 and systemic phaeohyphomycosis 25–28 in dogs, and brain abscess, 29 meningoencephalitis, 30 cerebellar infection, 31 pulmonary granuloma, 32 pyelonephritis, 33 cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis 34 and systemic phaeohyphomycosis 35 in cats. The mortality is extremely high, and very few cases could survive from treatment.…”

Cladophialophora bantiana as an Emerging Pathogen in Animals: Case Report of Equine Endometritis and Review of the Literature

“…In addition to these cases, there are some reports of animal infections where species-level confirmation had not been performed but which were probably due to C. bantiana (25)(26)(27)(28). In addition to the equine case of this report, animal species affected by this fungus include cats (20,23,(29)(30)(31)(32)(33), dogs (21, 27, 34-36), a snow leopard (24), and an alpaca (37). The predilection of this fungus for the central nervous system (CNS) is also apparent in animals: 58% of previously reported cases had lesions in the brain, and the clinical signs in these were similar to those of humans.…”

Lung

“…Thoracocentesis should be performed prior to sedation or anesthesia in all cats with known or presumed pleural space disease to remove any pleural effusion or air that may compromise respiration while under anesthesia. 72,73 Pneumonia Lung lobectomy is rarely necessary for the treatment of pneumonia in cats as most respond to medical therapy. 47-15).…”