title: Clinical characteristics and predictors of mortality for Cryptococcus gattii infection in dogs and cats of southwestern British Columbia.
abstract: Since 1999, Cryptococcus gattii has emerged as an important pathogen of humans and animals in southwestern British Columbia. Historically thought to be restricted to the tropics and subtropics, C. gattii has posed new diagnostic and treatment challenges to veterinary practitioners working within the recently identified endemic region. Clinical reports of canine and feline cryptococcosis caused by C. gattii diagnosed between January 1999 and December 2003 were included in this case series. The most common manifestations of disease were respiratory and central nervous system signs. Multivariate survival analysis revealed that the only significant predictor of mortality was the presence of central nervous system signs upon presentation or during therapy. Case fatality rates in both species were high. Further investigation into effective treatment regimes is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. colleen.duncan@colostate.edu
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stephen
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents