Two Cases of Feline Orbital Aspergillosis Due to <i>Aspergillus udagawae</i> and <i>A. viridinutans</i>

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Aspergillus udagawae and A. viridinutans are members of the section Fumigati; both cause invasive aspergillosis in humans. These two Aspergillus species are discriminated from A. fumigatus by molecular methods. Herein, we report two cases of feline orbital aspergillosis, one caused by A. udagawae and the other by A. viridinutans. To our knowledge, Case 1 represents the first reported case of treatment of A. udagawae with a high dosage of itraconazole, and Case 2 represents the first reported case of A. viridinutans infection associated with sarcoma. Identification of the etiologic agents of these cases was confirmed by comparative analyses of the sequences of β-tubulin-encoding genes. With the spread of non-fumigatus aspergillosis, increasing emphasis should be placed on molecular identification of the infecting Aspergillus species and the use of in vitro drug susceptibility tests to ensure the selection of appropriate antibiotics.

Computed tomographic features of feline sino-nasal and sino-orbital aspergillosis

“…Thus, risk factors additional to orbital lysis are clearly necessary for the establishment of mycotic orbital disease in cats. Previous studies have found that A. fumigatus infections were confined to the SNC, while cases of SOA were caused by cryptic species, particularly A. felis (Barrs et al, 2013;Barrs and Talbot, 2014;Declercq et al, 2012;Kano et al, 2008;Kano et al, 2013). Imaging findings presented here are consistent with this putative role for fungal species in disease outcome.…”

“…Molecular identification revealed two new isolates of A. udagawae from Australia and the USA. These, in addition to two previous isolates reported in Japan establish A. udagawae as the second most common cause of feline SOA (Kano et al, 2008;Kano et al, 2013). A. udagawae is the most common cryptic species to cause invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in humans (Vinh et al, 2009).…”

“…Feline upper respiratory tract aspergillosis (URTA), first described in 1982, (Wilkinson et al, 1982), is being increasingly reported (Barachetti et al, 2009;Barrs et al, 2012;Declercq et al, 2012;Furrow and Groman, 2009;Giordano et al, 2010;Kano et al, 2008;Kano et al, 2013;Karnik et al, 2009;Smith and Hoffman, 2010). Disease occurs over a wide geographic range, including Australia, the USA, the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, and Japan (Barrs et al, 2012;Barrs et al, 2013;Declercq et al, 2012;Goodall et al, 1984;Kano et al, 2013;Smith and Hoffman, 2010;Tomsa et al, 2003).…”

“…Disease occurs over a wide geographic range, including Australia, the USA, the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, and Japan (Barrs et al, 2012;Barrs et al, 2013;Declercq et al, 2012;Goodall et al, 1984;Kano et al, 2013;Smith and Hoffman, 2010;Tomsa et al, 2003). Two anatomic forms have been reported; sino-nasal aspergillosis (SNA) and sino-orbital aspergillosis (SOA) (Barrs et al, 2012).…”

“…Two anatomic forms have been reported; sino-nasal aspergillosis (SNA) and sino-orbital aspergillosis (SOA) (Barrs et al, 2012). The environmental saprophytic fungi that cause these infections are most commonly from the Aspergillus fumigatus complex including A. fumigatus and A. felis, a closely related, recently discovered cryptic (A. fumigatus-mimetic) species (Barrs et al, 2012;Barrs et al, 2013;Kano et al, 2008;Kano et al, 2013;Whitney et al, 2013). SNA and SOA have dramatically different prognoses (Barrs and Talbot, 2014).…”