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Four cats with fungal rhinitis
Beth L Whitney1, John Broussard, Joseph D Stefanacci
1Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center, 123 West Cedar Street, Norwalk, CT, USA. bethwhitney@hotmail.com
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
|February 3, 2005
Summary
Fungal rhinitis, including nasal aspergillosis-penicilliosis, is rare in cats, especially brachycephalic breeds. Itraconazole treatment is effective but requires completion to prevent recurrence and potential liver toxicity.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Mycology
Background:
- Fungal rhinitis is an uncommon condition in domestic cats.
- Nasal aspergillosis-penicilliosis, a specific type of fungal rhinitis, has been rarely documented in felines.
- Brachycephalic (short-nosed) feline breeds appear to have a higher predisposition to developing nasal aspergillosis-penicilliosis.
Observation:
- Clinical signs of fungal rhinitis in cats include epistaxis (nosebleeds), sneezing, mucopurulent nasal discharge, and exophthalmos (protruding eyeballs).
- Computed tomography (CT) imaging and rhinoscopy are valuable diagnostic tools for evaluating the extent of nasal fungal infections and obtaining samples.
- Fungal culture results should be interpreted cautiously due to potential false positives or negatives and must be correlated with other diagnostic findings. Serological testing showed limited utility in the cases examined.
Findings:
- Oral itraconazole therapy was administered to affected cats in this study.
- Premature cessation of itraconazole treatment led to the recurrence of clinical signs, highlighting the importance of completing the full course of therapy.
- Hepatotoxicosis (liver damage) is identified as a potential adverse effect associated with itraconazole administration.
Implications:
- This study underscores the importance of completing antifungal therapy for feline nasal aspergillosis-penicilliosis to ensure sustained remission.
- Veterinarians should consider breed predisposition, particularly in brachycephalic cats, when diagnosing and treating suspected cases of fungal rhinitis.
- Monitoring for potential hepatotoxicosis is crucial during itraconazole treatment in cats.