Histoplasmosis in domestic cats: new minimally invasive diagnostic techniques

The aim of the present study was to evaluate minimally invasive diagnostic techniques, such as the semi-quantitative indirect IgG antibody enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using blood serum and the urinary lateral flow assay (LFA), for the detection of Histoplasma capsulatum in cats with histoplasmosis.

Eight client-owned domestic cats diagnosed with histoplasmosis were selected based on cytological, histopathological, mycological, molecular or antigenic techniques. The blood serum of these animals was tested in a semi-quantitative indirect IgG antibody EIA for the detection of H capsulatum. Urine samples were tested for H capsulatum antigen using LFA.

Five cats were seropositive on IgG EIA (5/8, with diagnostic sensitivity equal to 62.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 24.5-91.5) and five cats were positive on H capsulatum antigen LFA (5/7, with diagnostic sensitivity equal to 71.4%; 95% CI 29.0-96.3). The combined diagnostic sensitivity when interpreted in parallel was 87.5% (7/8, 95% CI 47.3-99.7). The specificity for the anti-Histoplasma IgG EIA was 100% (95% CI 71.5-100) and for the H capsulatum antigen LFA it was also 100% (95% CI 71.5-100).

The semi-quantitative indirect IgG antibody EIA for the detection of H capsulatum in blood serum and the urinary LFA for the detection of the same agent emerge as new minimally invasive diagnostic techniques that can assist in the approach to disseminated and pulmonary feline histoplasmosis, especially when both techniques are considered together.