Four cats with fungal rhinitis

Abstract

Fungal rhinitis is uncommon in the cat and cases of nasal aspergillosis-penicilliosis have been rarely reported. Signs of fungal rhinitis include epistaxis, sneezing, mucopurulent nasal discharge and exophthalmos. Brachycephalic feline breeds seem to be at increased risk for development of nasal aspergillosis-penicilliosis. Computed tomography (CT) imaging and rhinoscopy are useful in assessing the extent of the disease and in obtaining diagnostic samples. Fungal culture may lead to false negative or positive results and must be used in conjunction with other diagnostic tests. Serological testing was not useful in two cats tested. The cats in this study were treated with oral itraconazole therapy. When itraconazole therapy was discontinued prematurely, clinical signs recurred. Hepatotoxicosis is a possible sequel to itraconazole therapy.

Detection of Aspergillus-specific antibodies by agar gel double immunodiffusion and IgG ELISA in feline upper respiratory tract aspergillosis

“…To further our understanding of the immunopathogenesis of this disease, additional studies of the humoral response to URTA, including quantification of IgM and IgA in affected cats, are warranted. Our finding that purebred cats of brachycephalic conformation were significantly more likely to develop URTA confirms a predisposition which, until now, has only been suspected (Tomsa et al, 2003;Whitney et al, 2005;Barrs et al, 2012). Impaired sinus aeration and drainage associated with brachycephalic skull conformation that favours fungal colonisation have been proposed as a mechanism for this breed association (Tomsa et al, 2003).…”

“…Similar to SNA in dogs, feline SNA is usually non-invasive, such that fungal hyphae do not penetrate the respiratory mucosa (Whitney et al, 2005); in contrast, in SOA fungal hyphae invade sino-nasal and paranasal tissues. Invasive mycoses typically occur in immunocompromised hosts.…”

A case series of unilateral orbital aspergillosis in three cats and treatment with voriconazole

“…Although reported as a rare condition in cats, sino‐orbital aspergillosis is increasingly described in the published reports suggesting this may be an emerging disease 1–9 . Invasive mycotic infections in humans, as well as animals, can occur as either disseminated or localized forms.…”

Evaluation of Serum Aspergillus‐Specific Immunoglobulin A by Indirect ELISA for Diagnosis of Feline Upper Respiratory Tract Aspergillosis

“…This results in narrowing of the nasal cavity and airways as well as deformation and displacement of the ethmoid and ventral nasal conchae . These anatomic abnormalities may result in increased mucosal edema, decreased turbinate airflow, and decreased mucociliary clearance of nasal secretions and have been suggested as possible factors increasing the risk of mycotic infection . However, because in dogs with SNA, dolichocephalic and mesaticephalic breeds are more commonly affected, anatomic abnormalities alone are unlikely to be responsible for the increased risk of disease in brachycephalic cats.…”