title: Granulomatous rhinitis due to Candida parapsilosis in a cat.
abstract: A 9-year-old female spayed Domestic Medium Hair cat presented to the referring veterinarian with a 2-week history of sneezing, which progressed to swelling over the nasal planum. The cat had been under veterinary care for inflammatory bowel disease and had been treated with 1.25 mg/kg prednisolone once a day for approximately 1 year. On physical examination, an approximately 2-3 mm diameter, round polypoid pink soft-tissue mass was protruding slightly from the right nostril. Through histologic examination of representative sections from the mass, there was a severe diffuse infiltrate of epithelioid macrophages and neutrophils that surrounded frequent 15-20 µm yeast organisms. A Grocott methenamine silver stain revealed the presence of pseudohyphae in addition to the previously noted yeast forms. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Cryptococcus neoformans, Ajellomyces dermatitidis (syn. Blastomyces dermatitidis), Coccidioides immitis, Ajellomyces capsulatus (syn. Histoplasma capsulatum), Malassezia spp., and Candida spp. was performed on the paraffin-embedded sample. The PCR for Candida spp. was positive; the product was then sequenced and was determined to be consistent with Candida parapsilosis. Following the PCR diagnosis and prior to treatment of the infection, C. parapsilosis was cultured from a nasal swab. The infection in the cat in the current report was considered opportunistic and secondary to immunosuppression, following treatment for the inflammatory bowel disease.
authors.affiliation: 1Catherine G. Lamm, IDEXX Laboratories Inc., 2825 KOVR Drive, West Sacramento, CA 95605. Catherine-Lamm@idexx.com.
authors.forename: Catherine G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Lamm
authors.forename: Sterrett C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Grune
authors.forename: Marko M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.forename: Mary B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: McIlwain
authors.forename: Christian M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Leutenegger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002175:Candida / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D017964:Itraconazole
keywords: Candida; cats; immunosuppression; rhinitis