Fatal systemic phaeohyphomycosis in a cat due to Cladophialophora bantiana

We report a case of fatal systemic mycosis in a 9-year-old cat. Diagnosis of phaeohyphomycosis was made by histology. Morphological and molecular identification of the fungus isolated from the lesions yielded the species Cladophialophora bantiana. This species is well known to be a neurotropic fungus causing cerebral pyogranulomatous lesions in humans. In this case, the lesions were widespread, distributed without the involvement of central nervous system. The origin of systemic manifestation is still unknown and no evidence of immunosuppression was found. It is the first feline case of C. bantiana infection reported in Europe.     

Feline phaeohyphomycosis: treatment with ketaconazole and 5-fluorocytosine

Two cats with phaeohyphomycosis, one infected with Phialophora verrucosa and the other with Exophiala jeanselmei, were treated with ketaconazole alone and in combination with 5-fluorocytosine after recurrence of the infections following surgical excision. The drugs were given orally at various doses and for various lengths of time, but were ineffective. Hepatocellular damage occurred in one cat.     

A case of feline phaeohyphomycosis due to Fonsecaea pedrosoi

The first report of a case of feline phaeohyphomycosis due to Fonsecaea pedrosoi is presented. Fonsecaea pedrosoi is an aetiologic agent of both human phaeohyphomycosis and chromoblastomycosis. In our cat, the lesion was confined to the skin and appeared as a firm swelling on the bridge of the nose. Diagnosis was based on histological examination of a cutaneous biopsy and fungal culture of a tissue sample on Sabouraud's dextrose agar. Further diagnostic tests failed to reveal an underlying immunosuppression. Two treatment cycles with itraconazole, at the oral dose of 5 mg kg-1 given twice daily, induced complete clinical remission, but relapses occurred.     

Feline hyper-eosinophilia with cutaneous lesions

Feline hypereosinophilic syndrome was first reported by Hendrick (1981) and in four subsequent communications a further six cases have been described (McEwan and others 1985, Tobias 1985, Scott and others 1985, Verhaert and others 1987). With the exception of one report (Scott and others 1985) which described a case with cutaneous lesions, cats have exhibited clinical signs related to internal lesions. This communication describes a case of feline hypere-osinophilia with cutaneous lesions which proved refractory to treatment.     

Facial cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis associated with Alternaria infectoriae infection

Cutaneous nodular disease in the horse is relatively rare and usually associated with arthropod bites, dermal hyperplasia and inflammatory or neoplastic infiltrates. Equine phaeohyphomycosis, particularly alternariosis, has been previously described in the literature and is usually associated with Alternaria alternata. In this article we report a case of phaeohyphomycosis caused by a member of Alternaria section Infectoriae in a horse. To our knowledge this is the first time that this organism has been identified in equids. Despite A. Infectoriae being commonly isolated in individuals receiving immunosuppressive therapy and/or suffering from Cushing's syndrome, we could not determine a link between pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and fungal infection in this case. The mare responded well to surgical excision of the cutaneous lesions and made a full recovery.     

Feline leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum in Italy

A case of leishmaniosis in domestic cats (Felis catus domesticus) is described. The subject showed a nodular lesion on the eyelid. The diagnosis was achieved by serological, parasitological, and light and electron microscopic investigations. By molecular techniques the aetiological agent was identified as belonging to Leishmania infantum, the species implicated in human and canine leishmaniosis in southern Europe. A preliminary study on the prevalence of asymptomatic feline leishmaniosis, performed in the areas where the infected cat was identified, revealed a low seroprevalence of infection: only 1 (0.9%) of the 110 cat sera examined by indirect fluorescent antibody test was positive for anti-Leishmania antibodies. Because clinical signs in feline leishmaniosis are unspecific and similar to those observed in other diseases commonly found in this species, leishmaniosis must be added to the differential diagnosis by feline veterinary practitioners and adequate serologic and histopathologic investigations must be performed in endemic areas.     

Successful treatment of disseminated cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis in a dog

A 7-year-old castrated male Whippet developed deep ulcerative skin lesions whilst receiving immunosuppressive doses of prednisolone and cyclosporine for the treatment of immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia. The lesions were determined to be a phaeohyphomycosis, caused by Curvularia lunata. The dog was treated with a combination of systemic antifungals and weaning off immunosuppressants and made a complete recovery. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case report of the successful treatment of disseminated cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis in a dog.     

Feline cutaneous toxoplasmosis: a case report

A 9-year-old female, domestic short hair cat was presented with sudden onset of polyuria/polydipsia, and hundreds of cutaneous nodules. Prior to referral, the cat had had four skin nodules that were treated with steroids. The four skin nodules then multiplied to form more than 100 ulcerated and nonulcerated nodules located all over the trunk. Clinical evaluation revealed hypothermia and respiratory distress. Cytology from both skin nodules and bronchoalveolar lavage showed macrophages and small organisms whose shape and size were indicative of Toxoplasma spp., or similar organisms. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) serology results were negative. The cat was seropositive for Toxoplasma (IgG 1 : 640) and Neospora (1 : 80) infections. The cat died soon after referral. Necropsy revealed pyothorax, necrotic/purulent pneumonia, haemorrhagic spots on kidneys and mesentery. Histopathology from skin nodules showed diffuse, deep necrotic dermatitis/panniculitis, vasculitis and disseminated free and grouped protozoa. The parasites were found in lungs, spleen, kidneys and liver. Immunohistochemistry on skin tissue with anti-Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum antibodies gave positive results with both. Electron microscopy showed single and grouped tachyzoites with morphological features of T. gondii, often within macrophages. Samples of cutaneous nodules and bronchoalveolar fluid were examined by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for detecting apicomplexa coccidia. PCR results were consistent only with T. gondii infection. Therefore, immunohistochemistry positivity for N. caninum was considered a cross-reaction and a diagnosis of cutaneous and visceral toxoplasmosis was made.     

Feline pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism and insulin resistance due to a plurihormonal adenoma

A 12-year-old female spayed domestic short-haired cat presented for lethargy, poor hair coat, alopecia, difficulty walking, and mild polyuria/polydipsia. The cat's skin tore easily in the neck area during routine restraint for blood draw. Physical examination, blood analysis, and ultrasound imaging were all consistent with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) with secondary insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus, which was nonketotic. Insulin therapy, fluids, and diet change were initiated for the diabetes mellitus and the owner reported improvement in clinical signs although the blood glucose measurements remained elevated. Surgical repair of the torn skin was successful. Although a guarded prognosis was given to the owner because of an advanced stage of hyperadrenocorticism, and the limited treatment options currently available for feline PDH, trilostane was agreed on as an initial therapeutic option. The day trilostane was to be initiated, the cat presented with dyspnea and the owner chose to euthanize. Because of the rarity of hyperadrenocorticism disease in the cat, permission was obtained by the owner for a necropsy to confirm suspected PDH as the underlying cause for insulin resistance and skin fragility syndrome.     

Feline cutaneous viral papilloma associated with human papillomavirus type 9

A 12-year-old domestic Shorthaired cat developed a multinodular exophytic mass on the dorsal surface of the nose. The skin surrounding the mass was nonpigmented, and actinic keratosis had been diagnosed in this area 3 years previously. Histologic examination revealed hyperkeratosis, epidermal hyperplasia, papillomatosis, koilocytosis, and possible intranuclear viral inclusions. Polymerase chain reaction amplified papillomaviral deoxyribonucleic acid from formalin-fixed samples of the lesion. Sequencing of the amplicon revealed 98% similarity to human papillomavirus (HPV) type 9. To the authors' knowledge, this is only the second reported feline cutaneous viral papilloma. In addition, this is the first report of a feline papilloma being associated with an HPV.     

Feline cutaneous fibropapillomas: clinicopathologic findings and association with papillomavirus infection

Twenty-three feline cutaneous fibropapillomas with histologic features similar to equine sarcoids were diagnosed. They were characterized by dermal fibroblastic proliferation with overlying, often ulcerated hyperplastic epidermis. Electron microscopic findings supported the fibroblastic nature of the neoplastic cells. The 23 tumors came from 20 cats and were submitted from veterinary clinics in Wisconsin and Minnesota. These tumors occurred most commonly in young cats and were found primarily on the head, neck, and digits. Fifteen of the 17 cats for which breed was reported were domestic shorthair cats. In 11/20 cases, there was confirmed exposure to cattle. Local recurrence of the tumor following surgical excision was reported in 7 of the 18 cats for which follow-up information was available. Metastasis was not documented in any of the cases. Two of the 19 tumors tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) had no amplifiable DNA. The remaining 17 were positive for papillomavirus by PCR. No papillomavirus DNA was detected in three other feline skin tumors (cutaneous mast cell tumor, malignant lymphoma, and fibrosarcoma) that served as controls. This is the first report of detection of papillomavirus in feline tumors that have clinicopathologic features similar to equine sarcoids.     

Feline cutaneous and visceral necrotizing panniculitis and steatitis associated with a pancreatic tumour

The association of pancreatic disorders with fat necrosis in domestic animals is rare. This report concerns a case of cutaneous/subcutaneous necrotizing panniculitis and steatitis associated with a pancreatic adenocarcinoma in an 11-year-old male Siamese cat. Clinical investigation revealed variably sized nodules on the trunk, limbs and abdomen. Some of them were ulcerated; others showed a shiny yellow necrotic background featuring irregular sinus tracts. The cat was euthanized at the owner's request before a diagnosis could be made. At necropsy, abundant oily material resembling mustard replaced the subcutaneous tissue and small yellow nodules were disseminated in the omentum, mesentery and serosa of the abdomen. A multilobulated mass arising from the anterior pancreatic head was found along with liver and lymph node metastasis. Histopathology showed wide fistulous tracts draining necrotic fat from the subcutis toward the surface and multifocal areas of necrotic adipocytes replacing the panniculus. Duct-like structures and tubules lined by neoplastic epithelial cells were observed in the primary pancreatic tumour and in the metastatic sites. The aetiology of the fat necrosis was possibly the result of systemic release of lipolytic pancreatic enzymes.