Neutrophil Oxidative Burst Profile Is Related to a Satisfactory Response to Itraconazole and Clinical Cure in Feline Sporotrichosis
- PMID: 38921408
- PMCID: PMC11205038
- DOI: 10.3390/jof10060422
Neutrophil Oxidative Burst Profile Is Related to a Satisfactory Response to Itraconazole and Clinical Cure in Feline Sporotrichosis
Abstract
Despite the central role of cats in the transmission and amplification of Sporothrix, studies regarding immune response in feline sporotrichosis are scarce. In cats with sporotrichosis, neutrophil-rich lesions are usually associated to good general condition and lower fungal burden. However, the role of neutrophils in anti-Sporothrix immunity has been little explored in cats. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the neutrophil oxidative burst in the blood of cats with sporotrichosis. Cats with sporotrichosis included in the study were treated with itraconazole (ITZ) alone or combined with potassium iodide (KI). The neutrophil oxidative burst was evaluated through a flow-cytometry-based assay using dihydrorhodamine 123 (background) and stimulation with Zymosan and heat-killed Sporothrix yeasts. The cure rate was 50.0% in cats under treatment with ITZ monotherapy and 90.9% in cats treated with ITZ + KI (p = 0.014), endorsing the combination therapy as an excellent alternative for the treatment of feline sporotrichosis. Higher percentages of Sporothrix-stimulated neutrophils were associated with good general condition (p = 0.003). Higher percentages of Sporothrix- (p = 0.05) and Zymosan-activated (p = 0.014) neutrophils before and early in the treatment were related to clinical cure in ITZ-treated cats. The correlation between oxidative burst and successful use of KI could not be properly assessed given the low number of failures (n = 2) in this treatment group. Nasal mucosa involvement, typically linked to treatment failure, was related to lower percentages of activated neutrophils in the background at the treatment outcome (p = 0.02). Our results suggest a beneficial role of neutrophils in feline sporotrichosis and a positive correlation between neutrophil activation and the cure process in ITZ-treated cats.
Keywords: Sporothrix; cat; flow cytometry; neutrophils; oxidative burst; sporotrichosis.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Figures




References
-
- Miranda L.H.M., Santiago M.A., Schubach T.M.P., Morgado F.N., Pereira S.A., Oliveira R.V.C., Conceição-Silva F. Severe feline sporotrichosis associated with an increased population of CD8low cells and a decrease in CD4+ cells. Med. Mycol. 2016;54:29–39. - PubMed
-
- Reis E.G.D., Pereira S.A., Miranda L.H.M., Oliveira R.V.C., Quintana M.S.B., Viana P.G., Figueiredo A.B.F., Honorato C.C.S., Pereira-Oliveira G.R., Silva J.N., et al. A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Itraconazole and a Combination Therapy with Itraconazole and Potassium Iodide for the Treatment of Feline Sporotrichosis. J. Fungi. 2024;10:101. doi: 10.3390/jof10020101. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
-
- Gremião I.D.F., Rocha E.M.d.S.d., Montenegro H., Carneiro A.J.B., Xavier M.O., de Farias M.R., Monti F., Mansho W., Pereira R.H.d.M.A., Pereira S.A., et al. Guideline for the management of feline sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis and literature revision. Braz. J. Microbiol. 2021;52:107–124. doi: 10.1007/s42770-020-00365-3. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
Grants and funding
- 400064/2017-0/Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro - FAPERJ/ Swiss National Science Foundation - SNSF/ Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq
- 88887.091508/2014-00/Coordenação de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- PAEF-IOC-008-FIO-22-2-49/Oswaldo Cruz Institute
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Miscellaneous