Feline sporotrichosis: epidemiological and clinical aspects

Abstract

Feline sporotrichosis, which is caused by species of the Sporothrix schenckii complex, is endemic to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. More than 4000 cases of the disease were diagnosed at Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil, between 1998 and 2012. Sporotrichosis in cats has been reported in several countries, but nowhere has an outbreak of animal sporotrichosis been as large as that seen in Brazil. The clinical manifestations of the disease range from an isolated skin lesion that can progress to multiple skin lesions and even fatal systemic involvement. Nodules and ulcers are the most common types of lesions, and respiratory signs and mucosa involvement are frequent. The definitive diagnosis depends on isolation of the etiologic agent in culture. Cytology, histopathology, and serology are useful tools for preliminary diagnosis. Severe pyogranulomatous inflammatory infiltrate, high fungal load, and extension of lesions to mucosa, cartilage, and bone in the nose of cats are indicative of an agent of high virulence in this endemic region. Itraconazole is the drug of choice, while, in refractory cases, amphotericin B or potassium iodide might be alternative treatments; however, recurrence after discharge may occur. Sporotrichosis persists as a neglected disease in Rio de Janeiro, and the treatment of cats remains a challenging and long-term endeavor.

Refractory feline sporotrichosis treated with itraconazole combined with potassium iodide

“…Increased ALT and gastrointestinal adverse effects are considered dependent on dose of ITZ and have been reported in cats with sporotrichosis under KI therapy (Pereira et al 2010, Gremião et al 2015. The adverse clinical effects observed here were higher and the increase of the ALT levels was more severe than those reported using ITZ and KI (2.5 to 5.4 mg/kg) in naïve cats with sporotrichosis (Reis et al 2016).…”

“…Respiratory signs (nasal discharge, sneezing and dyspnoea) were observed in 27 cats (71%). As observed by Gremião et al (2015), a higher frequency of lesions refractory to antifungal therapy occurs on the nasal region.…”

“…In addition, KI is less expensive than ITZ (Reis et al 2012). The effectiveness of both drugs as monotherapy had already been documented but cases of therapeutic failure are common (Gremião et al 2015). In this context, ITZ combined with KI has been successfully used in treating naïve cats (Reis et al 2016), as well as in a preliminary study conducted by our group, which included cats refractory to ITZ (Rocha et al 2013).…”

“…The disease usually ranges from a single skin lesion that can progress to multiple skin lesions and fatal systemic involvement. Nodules and ulcers are the most common skin lesions, and respiratory signs and nasal mucosa involvement occur frequently (Gremião et al 2015).…”

Esporotricose e seu Polimorfismo Clínico: Um Caso com Lesões Ulceradas na Região Centro Facial em Paciente Adulto.

“…De acordo com o Instituto de Pesquisa Evandro Chagas/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, mais de 4 mil humanos e 3 mil gatos foram infectados com esporotricose no período de 1998 a 2011. 7 A espécie mais associada a esse tipo de transmissão zoonótica é a S. brasiliensis. 4 A infecção se apresenta com diferentes formas clínicas, variando conforme aspectos de cada hospedeiro, como fatores de imunológicos, profundidade e quantidade do inó-culo, além de termo tolerância do agente etiológico.8 A forma cutâneo linfática corresponde a 70% -80% dos casos, apresentando-se como nódulo dérmico, indolor, que evolui para úlcera (conhecida como cancro esporotricótico), com bordas elevadas, centro granulomatoso de fundo limpo, associado a nódulos linfáticos ascendentes, principalmente nos membros superiores de adultos.…”