Sensitivity of cytopathological examination in the diagnosis of feline sporotrichosis

Abstract

Sporotrichosis is caused by Sporothrix schenckii. The cat is the animal species most affected by this mycosis and plays an important role in the zoonotic transmission of this disease. The definitive diagnosis is made by isolation of the fungus in culture; however, cytopathological examination is frequently used in cats. Medical records from cats treated at Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between 2004 and 2006 were reviewed. Criteria for inclusion were a diagnosis by isolation of S schenckii in culture and cytopathological examination of the same lesion as that used for collection of the culture material. Eight hundred and six cats were included in the study. Yeast-like structures suggestive of S schenckii were observed in 636 cases. The sensitivity of the method was 78.9%. Its practicality, low cost and sensitivity validate cytopathology as a safe technique for the presumptive diagnosis of sporotrichosis in cats.

Sporothrix brasiliensis outbreaks and the rapid emergence of feline sporotrichosis

“…Indeed, the high number of cases in a short period is compatible with the ongoing situation reported earlier in other endemic areas of Brazil. [1][2][3]6,12,14,15,19,20,28,29 The real prevalence of feline sporotrichosis is likely to be underestimated in Southern Brazil, since it is not an obligatorily reported disease. We considered only the cases referred to FAMED-FURG and with confirmed laboratorial diagnosis of sporotrichosis, i.e., by isolation of Sporothrix in culture.…”

Phylogenetic Analysis Reveals a High Prevalence of Sporothrix brasiliensis in Feline Sporotrichosis Outbreaks

“…Since then sporotrichosis has been reported in dogs, cats, horses, cows, camels, dolphins, goats, mules, birds, pigs, rats, and armadillos, as well as in humans. However, the cat is the animal species most affected by this mycosis [2]. Over the last two decades, Brazil has experienced its largest epidemic of sporotrichosis due to zoonotic transmission, whereby cats were pointed out as key susceptible host.…”

The epidemiological scenario of feline sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…The disease occurs worldwide but is endemic in Latin America, especially in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the fi rst epidemic of zoonotic sporotrichosis was described at the end of the 1990s 1 . The animal species most affected is the cat, which can exhibit a wide spectrum of clinical signs ranging from a single cutaneous lesion to a disseminated form 2,3 . Unlike the lesions observed in humans and dogs, cutaneous lesions in felines carry a high parasite burden, making the cat an important source of infection in the zoonotic transmission of this fungus 1,3,4 .…”

“…The animal species most affected is the cat, which can exhibit a wide spectrum of clinical signs ranging from a single cutaneous lesion to a disseminated form 2,3 . Unlike the lesions observed in humans and dogs, cutaneous lesions in felines carry a high parasite burden, making the cat an important source of infection in the zoonotic transmission of this fungus 1,3,4 . In the past 14 years, transmission of S. schenckii from scratches, bites or contact with sick cats has been reported in Brazil 1 The medical records of the cats followed at Lapclin-Dermzoo from January 2005 to December 2011 were reviewed; the inclusion criterion was the diagnosis of sporotrichosis confi rmed by isolation of Sporothrix spp.…”