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Atypical cutaneous cryptococcosis in four cats in the USA.
Vet Dermatol. 2017 Aug; 28(4):405-e97.VD

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Cryptococcosis is an uncommon fungal infection in humans and mammals. Occasionally, cryptococcosis manifests as cutaneous lesions, either as an extension of nasal disease or as stand alone lesions unassociated with the nose. Histologically, these lesions are typically characterized by abundant organisms with mild granulomatous dermatitis. Herein, four feline cases of atypical cutaneous cryptococcal infections are described.

METHODS

Skin punch biopsies from four client owned cats were submitted for histological evaluation between 2006 and 2015. Histological examination, including histochemical stains, was performed in all cases. Immunohistochemical stains and PCR were performed in three of four cases. Fungal culture was performed in two cases and transmission electron microscopy was performed in one case.

RESULTS

Grossly, the cutaneous lesions were papular to nodular with occasional ulceration and were located predominantly on the trunk. Histological examination revealed severe granulomatous to pyogranulomatous and eosinophilic dermatitis with rare, capsule-deficient yeasts. Immunohistochemistry, PCR and fungal culture confirmed Cryptococcus spp. to be the aetiological agent in these cases.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

In cutaneous lesions, capsule-deficient strains of Cryptococcus spp. may induce a severe inflammatory response with rare intralesional organisms that may not be readily identified on routine haematoxylin and eosin stained slides. Special stains with careful examination and ancillary tests (PCR, immunohistochemistry, fungal culture or antigen testing) should be performed when pyogranulomatous and eosinophilic dermatitis is encountered without an identifiable cause.

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Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Myers A
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
Meason-Smith C
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
Mansell J
Dermatopathology Specialty Service, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
Krockenberger M
Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
Peters-Kennedy J
Department of Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA.
Ross Payne H
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
Rodrigues Hoffmann A
Dermatopathology Specialty Service, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.

MeSH

AnimalsBiopsyCat DiseasesCatsCryptococcosisCryptococcus neoformansDermatomycosesFemaleMaleMicroscopy, Electron, TransmissionPolymerase Chain ReactionSkin

Pub Type(s)

Case Reports

Language

eng

PubMed ID

28133852

Citation

Myers, Alexandra, et al. "Atypical Cutaneous Cryptococcosis in Four Cats in the USA." Veterinary Dermatology, vol. 28, no. 4, 2017, pp. 405-e97.
Myers A, Meason-Smith C, Mansell J, et al. Atypical cutaneous cryptococcosis in four cats in the USA. Vet Dermatol. 2017;28(4):405-e97.
Myers, A., Meason-Smith, C., Mansell, J., Krockenberger, M., Peters-Kennedy, J., Ross Payne, H., & Rodrigues Hoffmann, A. (2017). Atypical cutaneous cryptococcosis in four cats in the USA. Veterinary Dermatology, 28(4), 405-e97. https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.12423
Myers A, et al. Atypical Cutaneous Cryptococcosis in Four Cats in the USA. Vet Dermatol. 2017;28(4):405-e97. PubMed PMID: 28133852.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Atypical cutaneous cryptococcosis in four cats in the USA. AU - Myers,Alexandra, AU - Meason-Smith,Courtney, AU - Mansell,Joanne, AU - Krockenberger,Mark, AU - Peters-Kennedy,Jeanine, AU - Ross Payne,Harold, AU - Rodrigues Hoffmann,Aline, Y1 - 2017/01/29/ PY - 2016/12/03/accepted PY - 2017/1/31/pubmed PY - 2017/12/22/medline PY - 2017/1/31/entrez SP - 405 EP - e97 JF - Veterinary dermatology JO - Vet Dermatol VL - 28 IS - 4 N2 - BACKGROUND: Cryptococcosis is an uncommon fungal infection in humans and mammals. Occasionally, cryptococcosis manifests as cutaneous lesions, either as an extension of nasal disease or as stand alone lesions unassociated with the nose. Histologically, these lesions are typically characterized by abundant organisms with mild granulomatous dermatitis. Herein, four feline cases of atypical cutaneous cryptococcal infections are described. METHODS: Skin punch biopsies from four client owned cats were submitted for histological evaluation between 2006 and 2015. Histological examination, including histochemical stains, was performed in all cases. Immunohistochemical stains and PCR were performed in three of four cases. Fungal culture was performed in two cases and transmission electron microscopy was performed in one case. RESULTS: Grossly, the cutaneous lesions were papular to nodular with occasional ulceration and were located predominantly on the trunk. Histological examination revealed severe granulomatous to pyogranulomatous and eosinophilic dermatitis with rare, capsule-deficient yeasts. Immunohistochemistry, PCR and fungal culture confirmed Cryptococcus spp. to be the aetiological agent in these cases. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: In cutaneous lesions, capsule-deficient strains of Cryptococcus spp. may induce a severe inflammatory response with rare intralesional organisms that may not be readily identified on routine haematoxylin and eosin stained slides. Special stains with careful examination and ancillary tests (PCR, immunohistochemistry, fungal culture or antigen testing) should be performed when pyogranulomatous and eosinophilic dermatitis is encountered without an identifiable cause. SN - 1365-3164 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/28133852/Atypical_cutaneous_cryptococcosis_in_four_cats_in_the_USA_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -