FELINE SPOROTRICHOSIS

Feline sporotrichosis is a chronic granulomatous disease produced by the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii Lesions most often occur as nonhealing, ulcerated, and lymphangitic nodules on the head and extremities of outdoor cats. If there are suspicious lesions, biopsy should be performed for culture and histopathologic examination. Tissue and exudate samples must be considered as potentially hazardous until a definitive diagnosis has been made. Feline sporotrichosis should be considered a zoonosis because cases of cat-to-human transmission have been well documented. Humans who are in contact with infected cats should be informed of the contagious nature of the disease when therapeutic options are discussed.