7th November 2009
I learn about a cat's disease call
SPOROTRICHOSIS.
it is a fungal infection that occurs
through traumatic inoculation of organic matter
that is contaminated
with
Sporothrix schenckiiand
is usually limited to the skin
and subcutaneous tissue.
In cats, sporotrichosis varies from an asymptomatic
infection to a fatal disseminated systemic disease.
The initial lesions can be found anywhere but often develop on the distal
extremities, base of the tail, or head.
They begin as small,
draining puncture wounds but eventually become nodular.
These nodules may ulcerate or suppurate.
Some ulcers may
cavitate, exposing large areas of underlying muscle and bone.
Although S. schenckii can spread along the lymphatics in
cats, these vessels may not be obviously involved.
Cats also
spread the organisms to other parts of the body by grooming.
Weight loss, anorexia, fever, depression, and dyspnea can occur if the lesions are extensive.
In addition, the organisms can disseminate into the internal organs.
Generalized or disseminated disease can be fatal.
TreatmentVarious antifungal drugs including:
1) ketoconazole
2) itraconazole
3) amphotericin B
have been used to treat sporotrichosis in animals.
For cutaneous or lymphocutaneous forms:
1) Potassium
or
2) sodium iodide
can be used
Cats are particularly sensitive to iodine and must be watched carefully
for signs of toxicity when using these two drugs.
PreventionIn animals, there is no practical way to prevent infections
acquired from the environment.
Infected animals, particularly cats, should be
isolated to prevent the organism
from spreading.
Keeping cats indoors during feline epidemics can reduce the risk of infection; cat fights and other feline behaviors have been implicated in the spread of the disease.
Morbidity and MortalitySporotrichosis less common in cats, and uncommon in dogs.
In cats, it occurs most often in sexually intact males allowed to roam;
however,
cases have also been reported in indoor cats exposed only
to houseplants and potting soil.
Among dogs, this disease
is seen most often in hunting dogs or other dogs frequently
exposed to thorns and splinters.
Most cases of sporotrichosis
in animals are sporadic; however, an epidemic affecting
more than a thousand cats was reported in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil in 2002/2003.
Frequent cat fights and other feline
behaviors are thought to have helped the organism spread in
this epidemic.
There was
no association with
FIV or
FeLVmediatedimmunosuppression.The risk of dissemination and fatal disease varies with
the species.
Approximately
half of all experimentally infected cats develop disseminated disease.
Disseminated sporotrichosis is usually fatal without treatment.
Post-Mortem Lesions
In cats, the initial histologic lesion is;
perivascular dermatitis.Later, there is diffuse or
nodular dermatitis;
it may be
suppurative,
pyogranulomatous, or granulomatous.
Intraepidermal
microabscesses and pseudocarcinomatous epidermal
hyperplasia may also be seen.
Numerous yeasts are found in the lesions in cats but not in other species.
In addition, most necropsies in affected cats reveal evidence of lymph node
and lymphatic involvement.
In cats with disseminated disease,
small numbers of organisms may be found in internal organs.
hey, what's that?!!
Uh-oh
Momo : It may be dangerous! Never-mind! Let me protect you!
