Use of local hyperthermia to treat sporotrichosis in a cat

Abstract

SPOROTRICHOSIS is a subcutaneous mycosis caused by the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii. In domestic cats, sporotrichosis is characterised by the presence of ulcerated and nodular cutaneous lesions, which may be disseminated (Rippon 1988).The treatment of feline sporotrichosis is difficult and represents a challenge to veterinarians (Barros and others 2004) since there are few therapeutic options and the drugs used may have adverse effects (Welsh 2003). Itraconazole is effective and safe when compared to other oral antifungal agents, and is therefore the drug of choice for the treatment of the disease (Sykes and others 2001), especially in situations in which cost is not a limiting factor (Morris-Jones 2002). Local hyperthermia has been used as an alternative treatment for human patients with cutaneous or lymphocutaneous lesions (Hiruma and others 1987, Haruna and others 2006). However, there are no reports regarding the use of local hyperthermia in cases of feline sporotrichosis. This short communication describes a case of localised cutaneous sporotrichosis in a domestic cat that was treated with local hyperthermia.A seven-month-old neutered female crossbred cat, weighing 3·0 kg, was presented to the authors' laboratory with a clinical suspicion of sporotrichosis. Clinical examination revealed the presence of a single ulcerated cutaneous lesion with well-defined borders, measuring 0·7 cm in diameter, in the left lateral thoracic region, and swelling of the axillary lymph node on the same side. According to the owner, the lesion had become apparent approximately three months earlier.A sample of secretion from the lesion was collected for cytopathological analysis and mycological culture. Slides containing the impression of the secretion were stained with Giemsa; microscopic examination revealed the presence of oval and fusiform leveduriform structures. S schenckii was isolated and identified by mycological culture (Rippon 1988). Routine mycological examination consisted of seeding the sample on to Sabouraud's dextrose agar and mycobiotic agar (Difco), which was incubated at 25°C and observed for fungal growth for four weeks. Suspected isolates were subcultured on potato dextrose agar (Difco) at 25°C for macroscopic and microscopic morphological analysis, and dimorphism was demonstrated by conversion to the yeast-like form on brain heart infusion agar (Difco) at 37°C.

Surto de esporotricose felina na região metropolitana do Recife

“…Para evitar complicações medicamentosas foi aconselhado a administração de protetor hepático e acompanhamento mensal dos animais com exame físico, hematológico e bioquímico. Segundo Honse et al (2010) e Gremião et al (2006) em casos mais brandos com lesões únicas podem ser realizados métodos alternativos como aplicação de termoterapia local ou incisão cirúrgica com administração de itraconazol, porém, em casos mais graves é comum a ocorrência de recidivas (Schubach et al 2002, Acosta 2013. Nesse estudo não foi possível o acompanhamento dos felinos durante o tratamento porque os proprietários não retornavam com os animais aos consultórios.…”

Guideline for the management of feline sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis and literature revision

“…Thermotherapy [124], surgical therapy [125,126], and cryosurgery [127] are other options for the treatment of feline sporotrichosis. Their use should be carefully evaluated according to the case.…”

Cytotoxicity and anti-Sporothrix brasiliensis activity of the Origanum majorana Linn. oil

“…Limited lesions to skin and subcutaneous tissue may arise in the host and may have lymphatic involvement with systemic clinical signs. 9 The treatment of choice is performed with the antifungal itraconazole 10 , 11 , 12 ; however, the appearance of resistant strains of Sporothrix sp. has been observed because of the indiscriminate use of several antifungals in therapies.…”