First case of feline cryptococcosis in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Case summary: A 2-year-old domestic longhair crossbred female cat was referred for a second opinion on a non-healing surgical wound after left eye enucleation. In addition to the left orbital lesion, ulcerative granular masses protruding from the left nostril and on the base of the left ear were noted. A diagnosis of cryptococcosis was established using histopathological examination and a latex cryptococcal antigen agglutination test. The cat was successfully treated with itraconazole.

Relevance and novel information: Cryptococcosis, commonly reported in Australia, western Canada and the western USA, is rarely reported in companion animals in Europe. This marks the first report of cryptococcosis in cats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasising the need to raise awareness within the veterinary community, both local and regional, about this disease.

Keywords: Azole therapy; Cryptococcus; Europe; cytology; yeast.

Figure 1

The first presentation of the case during the clinical examination. An unhealed deep surgical wound with distorted nasal planum. Surrounding tissue was oedematous with swelling extending over the bridge of the nose

Figure 2

Fine-needle aspirate of intraorbital proliferative tissue from the cat infected with Cryptococcus species. Myriad free and clustered yeast forms in the mucinous matrix (asterisks), numerous neutrophils and few macrophages are visible. Diff–Quick, scale bar 50 µm. Insert: A macrophage laden with Cryptococcus species. May Grünwald Giemsa, scale bar 10 µm

Figure 3

Intraorbital proliferative tissue from the cat infected with Cryptococcus species. Numerous red-violet yeast cells with thick capsules are present in the interstitial tissue. Note rare narrow buddings (arrows). Periodic acid–Schiff, scale bar 20 µm

Figure 4

Reduction of clinical signs after initiation of antifungal therapy: (a) 1 month after treatment; and (b) 10 months after treatment with marked reduction of nasal and base of the ear masses.