title: Computed tomographic features of feline sino-nasal and sino-orbital aspergillosis.
abstract: Feline upper respiratory tract aspergillosis (URTA) occurs as two distinct anatomical forms, namely, sino-nasal aspergillosis (SNA) and sino-orbital aspergillosis (SOA). An emerging pathogen, Aspergillus felis, is frequently involved. The pathogenesis of URTA, in particular the relationship between the infecting isolate and outcome, is poorly understood. In this study, computed tomography was used to investigate the route of fungal infection and extension in 16 cases (SNA n = 7, SOA n = 9) where the infecting isolate had been identified by molecular testing. All cases had nasal cavity involvement except for one cat with SNA that had unilateral frontal sinus changes. There was a strong association between the infecting species and anatomic form (P = 0.005). A. fumigatus infections remained within the sino-nasal cavity, while cryptic species infections were associated with orbital and paranasal soft-tissue involvement and with orbital lysis. Cryptic species were further associated with a mass in the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses or nasopharynx. Orbital masses showed heterogeneous contrast enhancement, with central coalescing hypoattenuating foci and peripheral rim enhancement. Severe, cavitated turbinate lysis, typical of canine SNA, was present only in cats with SNA. These findings support the hypothesis that the nasal cavity is the portal of entry for fungal spores in feline URTA and that the route of extension to involve the orbit is via direct naso-orbital communication from bone lysis. Additionally, a pathogenic role for A. wyomingensis and a sinolith in a cat with A. udagawae infection are reported for the first time.
authors.affiliation: Valentine Charlton Cat Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: vanessa.barrs@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Barrs
authors.affiliation: Valentine Charlton Cat Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Beatty
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2570, Australia.
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Dhand
authors.affiliation: Valentine Charlton Cat Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic and Hospital, Werribee, Vic. 3030, Australia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic and Hospital, Werribee, Vic. 3030, Australia.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Speciality and Emergency Centre, Levittown, 301 Veterans Highway, Philadelphia, PA, 19056, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied and Industrial Mycology, CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van Doorn
authors.affiliation: Valentine Charlton Cat Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology; D002415:Cats; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer
keywords: Aspergillosis; Aspergillus felis; Cats; Sino-nasal; Sino-orbital