title: Clinical aspects of natural infection with Blastomyces dermatitidis in cats: 8 cases (1991-2005).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate clinical and laboratory findings, treatment, and clinical outcome in cats with blastomycosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  8 cats with naturally occurring blastomycosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital were searched for cases of blastomycosis in cats diagnosed via cytologic or histopathologic findings. Clinical and laboratory findings, treatment, and clinical outcome were determined. Radiographs were reviewed for the 8 cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All cats were systemically ill. Respiratory tract signs and dermal lesions were most commonly observed. All cats had radiographic evidence of respiratory tract disease. Seven of the 8 cats had ill-defined soft-tissue opacities (nodules or masses) or alveolar consolidation of the lungs. Antemortem diagnosis was achieved cytologically in 6 of the 8 cats, and 3 were successfully treated and survived.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In contrast to previous reports, diagnosis was achieved antemortem in most of the cats (all by cytologic identification of the organism). Clinical signs, laboratory findings, and outcome were similar to previous descriptions of this rare disease in cats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gilor
authors.forename: Thomas K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Barger
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Dell-Anderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001758:Blastomyces / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001759:Blastomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole; D015725:Fluconazole