P469 Feline aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus candidus: A case report
Authors: Fernandez Norma B. , Dominguez Luz Maria , Rozemblun Natalia , Hevia Alejandra 
Published: September 2022

Poster session 3, September 23, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Aspergillosis is an emerging mycosis that can occur in apparently healthy animals under environmental stress or immune-compromised condition. In cats, the clinical forms described are sinonasal, synoorbital, and, less frequently, invasive and disseminated forms.

Feline aspergillosis is caused mainly by cryptic species of Aspergillus closely related to Aspergillus fumigatus. It is rare to recover species such as A. candidus, an endophytic fungus, opportunistic pathogen, and contaminant of cereals, nuts, and flour. It is described to cause allergic alveolitis or asthma, mycotoxicosis, and other related diseases. Mycelial fragments, inhaled spores, and substances such as terpenoids, flavones, and indoles in the lungs could be involved in the underlying pathogenesis.

This presentation aims to describe a clinical case of feline pneumonia caused by A. candidus.

Clinical case

We present the clinical case of a common European breed feline of ∼ 7 years of age. The cat was rescued from the streets of an urban area in Buenos Aires and examined in April 2021. The feline suffered from mild hyperthermia, 39.4°C, had pale to slightly purple mucous membranes, cachexia, dehydration, dyspnea (abdominal respiration), tachycardia, and a large number of parasites. There were no nasal discharge, cough, or skin lesions. A hemogram with a blood biochemistry profile showed no significant alterations. Chest X-rays showed a pattern compatible with severe miliary pneumonia. A bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed for cytology and microbiological culture; direct examination showed nucleated superficial epithelial cells without atypia, few macrophages, no leukocytes, and gram-positive cocci, while ZN and mycological direct examination were negative. Treatment with doxycycline 10 mg/k every 12 h and dexamethasone was indicated. Flea treatment and control were conducted every 72 h. During the following consultations, the cat continued tachypnoeic and showed increased vesicular murmur with rales and cough. Corticosteroids (Fluticasone propionate 125 mg) were given every 12 h intranasal. Oral parasitization was performed due to the presence of Dipylidium caninum in feces. After 7 days of incubation, white cottony colonies phenotypically identified as Aspergillus grew on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Even though serum galactomannan GM (Platelia Aspergillus EIA BIORAD®) is useful as a biomarker in humans with OD &gt;0.5 positive for invasive aspergillosis, it was used in this case and the result was OD 0.75. Antifungal treatment was started with itraconazole orally at 5 mg/kg/d. A mycobacterial culture was negative.

The isolate was identified by partial sequencing of the calmodulin gene CaM as A. candidus.

The feline showed a remarkable recovery. After 35 days from the start of the treatment, the final consultation showed a decrease in the pattern of military pneumonia through radiological images and an absence of any evident respiratory symptoms.

Conclusion

We describe a fungal infection in a cat caused by an unusual species of Aspergillus. Moreover, this clinical case was proved to be pneumonia. Given this, it is important to consider this species as an emerging pathogen in cats.