Concurrent Fusarium chlamydosporum and Microsphaeropsis arundinis infections in a cat

• Published in: Journal of feline medicine and surgery 2004-08, Vol.6 (4), p.271-277
• Main Authors: Kluger, E.K, Della Torre, P.K, Martin, P, Krockenberger, M.B, Malik, R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: amputation; Animals; antifungal agents; Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use; Case Report; case studies; Cat Diseases - diagnosis; Cat Diseases - drug therapy; Cat Diseases - pathology; Cat Diseases - surgery; Cats; Dermatomycoses - diagnosis; Dermatomycoses - veterinary; Diagnosis, Differential; Fusarium - isolation & purification; Fusarium chlamydosporum; Hindlimb; Itraconazole - therapeutic use; Ketoconazole - therapeutic use; Lactams - therapeutic use; limbs (animal); Male; Microsphaeropsis arundinis; Mitosporic Fungi - isolation & purification; mycoses
• ISSN: 1098-612X; 1532-2750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2003.08.006

A 7-year-old cat was presented initially with multiple draining sinuses on the metatarsal region of its right hindlimb. Another lesion had appeared at the same time on the fifth proximal interphalangeal joint of the left forelimb. Histopathological examination of a biopsy from the right hindlimb lesion revealed chronic pyogranulomatous inflammation associated with yeast-like bodies and septate mycelia; a fungus was cultured on conventional media but not identified further. Culture of a swab collected from the left forelimb lesion demonstrated a pigmented fungus, also not characterised further. Although there was initially a favourable response to ketoconazole (Nizoral, Janssen-Cilag Pty. Ltd) and β-lactam therapy, the infection in the hind limb relapsed subsequently, and Fusarium chlamydosporum was cultured from deep biopsy specimens. Clinical improvement followed debridement and itraconazole (Sporanox, Janssen-Cilag Pty. Ltd; 100 mg orally once daily), however amputation of the limb represented the best chance for a cure. The cat made an uncomplicated recovery following surgery and remained well for five months until the lesion on the left forelimb recurred. Amputation of the distal fourth digit was then performed, and the resected tissue submitted for culture. The dematiaceous fungus Microsphaeropsis arundinis was subsequently cultured. The cat remained well for several months, until a further F. chlamydosporum infection developed on the body wall. This was excised 7 months ago, and no lesions have recurred in this area. Importantly, this is the first reported case of M. arundinis infection in a mammalian host.