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Barrs VR, Beczkowski PM, Talbot JJ, Hobi S, Teoh SN, Hernandez Muguiro D, Shubitz LF, Sandy J. Invasive Fungal Infections and Oomycoses in Cats: 1. Diagnostic approach. J Feline Med Surg 2024; 26:1098612X231219696. [PMID: 38189288 PMCID: PMC10949879 DOI: 10.1177/1098612x231219696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
CLINICAL RELEVANCE In contrast to superficial fungal infections, such as dermatophytosis, invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are characterised by penetration of tissues by fungal elements. Disease can spread locally within a region or can disseminate haematogenously or via the lymphatics. The environment is the most common reservoir of infection. Since fungal spores are airborne, indoor cats are also susceptible to IFIs. Some environmental fungi are ubiquitous and present globally, while others are endemic or hyperendemic within specific geographic regions. Zoonotic pathogens include Microsporum canis, Sporothrix schenckii and Sporothrix brasiliensis. AIM In the first of a two-part article series, the approach to the investigation of feline IFIs and oomycoses is reviewed. As well as tips for diagnosis, and information on the ecological niche and distribution of fungal pathogens, the review covers clinical presentation of the most common IFIs, including cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, sporotrichosis, phaeohyphomycosis, aspergillosis and dermatophytic pseudomycetoma, as well as the oomycoses pythiosis, lagenidiosis and paralagenidiosis. In Part 2, the spectrum of activity, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties and adverse effects of antifungal drugs are reviewed, and the treatment and prognosis for specific IFIs and oomycoses are discussed. EVIDENCE BASE The review draws on published evidence and the authors' combined expertise in feline medicine, mycology, dermatology, clinical pathology and anatomical pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa R Barrs
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR China
- Centre for Animal Health and Welfare, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Paweł M Beczkowski
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | | | - Stefan Hobi
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Shu Ning Teoh
- Veterinary Specialists Aotearoa, Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Lisa F Shubitz
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, The University of Arizona, AZ, USA
| | - Jeanine Sandy
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR China
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Characterization of Oral Microbiota in Cats: Novel Insights on the Potential Role of Fungi in Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10070904. [PMID: 34358054 PMCID: PMC8308807 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10070904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have suggested the involvement of viral and bacterial components in the initiation and progression of feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS), but the role of fungi remains entirely unknown. This pilot study aimed to investigate the bacteriome and mycobiome in feline oral health and disease. Physical exams, including oral health assessment, of privately owned, clinically healthy (CH) cats (n = 14) and cats affected by FCGS (n = 14) were performed. Using a sterile swab, oral tissue surfaces of CH and FCGS cats were sampled and submitted for 16S rRNA and ITS-2 next-generation DNA sequencing. A high number of fungal species (n = 186) was detected, with Malassezia restricta, Malassezia arunalokei, Cladosporium penidielloides/salinae, and Aspergillaceae sp. being significantly enriched in FCGS samples, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in CH samples. The bacteriome was significantly distinct between groups, and significant inter-kingdom interactions were documented. Bergeyella zoohelcum was identified as a potential biomarker of a healthy feline oral microbiome. These data suggest that fungi might play a role in the etiology and pathogenesis of FCGS, and that oral health should not simply be regarded as the absence of microbial infections. Instead, it may be viewed as the biological interactions between bacterial and fungal populations that coexist to preserve a complex equilibrium in the microenvironment of the mouth. Additional investigations are needed to improve our understanding of the feline oral ecosystem and the potential interactions between viruses, bacteria, and fungi in FCGS.
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Barrs VR, Talbot JJ. Fungal Rhinosinusitis and Disseminated Invasive Aspergillosis in Cats. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2019; 50:331-357. [PMID: 31866094 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2019.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Fungal rhinosinusitis, including sinonasal aspergillosis (SNA) and sino-orbital aspergillosis (SOA), is the most common type of aspergillosis encountered in cats. Other focal forms of aspergillosis including disseminated invasive aspergillosis occur less frequently. SOA is an invasive mycosis that is increasingly recognized and is most commonly caused by Aspergillus felis, a close relative of Aspergillus fumigatus. SNA can be invasive or noninvasive and is most commonly caused by A fumigatus and Aspergillus niger. Molecular methods are required to correctly identify the fungi that cause SNA and SOA. SNA has a favorable prognosis with treatment, whereas the prognosis for SOA remains poor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa R Barrs
- City University of Hong Kong, Department of Infectious Diseases & Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Jessica J Talbot
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Sydney, University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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Talbot JJ, Houbraken J, Frisvad JC, Samson RA, Kidd SE, Pitt J, Lindsay S, Beatty JA, Barrs VR. Discovery of Aspergillus frankstonensis sp. nov. during environmental sampling for animal and human fungal pathogens. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0181660. [PMID: 28792943 PMCID: PMC5549889 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections (IFI) due to species in Aspergillus section Fumigati (ASF), including the Aspergillus viridinutans species complex (AVSC), are increasingly reported in humans and cats. The risk of exposure to these medically important fungi in Australia is unknown. Air and soil was sampled from the domiciles of pet cats diagnosed with these IFI and from a nature reserve in Frankston, Victoria, where Aspergillus viridinutans sensu stricto was discovered in 1954. Of 104 ASF species isolated, 61% were A. fumigatus sensu stricto, 9% were AVSC (A. felis-clade and A. frankstonensis sp. nov.) and 30% were other species (30%). Seven pathogenic ASF species known to cause disease in humans and animals (A. felis-clade, A. fischeri, A. thermomutatus, A. lentulus, A. laciniosus A. fumisynnematus, A. hiratsukae) comprised 25% of isolates overall. AVSC species were only isolated from Frankston soil where they were abundant, suggesting a particular ecological niche. Phylogenetic, morphological and metabolomic analyses of these isolates identified a new species, A. frankstonensis that is phylogenetically distinct from other AVSC species, heterothallic and produces a unique array of extrolites, including the UV spectrum characterized compounds DOLD, RAIMO and CALBO. Shared morphological and physiological characteristics with other AVSC species include slow sporulation, optimal growth at 37°C, no growth at 50°C, and viriditoxin production. Overall, the risk of environmental exposure to pathogenic species in ASF in Australia appears to be high, but there was no evidence of direct environmental exposure to AVSC species in areas where humans and cats cohabitate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica J Talbot
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jos Houbraken
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jens C Frisvad
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Robert A Samson
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Sarah E Kidd
- National Mycology Reference Centre, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, SA Pathology, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - John Pitt
- CSIRO Food Science, CSIRO, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sue Lindsay
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Julia A Beatty
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Vanessa R Barrs
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
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Taylor A, Peters I, Dhand NK, Whitney J, Johnson LR, Beatty JA, Barrs VR. Evaluation of Serum Aspergillus-Specific Immunoglobulin A by Indirect ELISA for Diagnosis of Feline Upper Respiratory Tract Aspergillosis. J Vet Intern Med 2016; 30:1708-1714. [PMID: 27581099 PMCID: PMC5032860 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.14567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Revised: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Serological tests for diagnosis of aspergillosis in immunocompetent humans and animals are based on Aspergillus‐specific IgG (As‐IgG). In humans with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, As‐IgA may be detectable even if IgG titers are negative. Cats with upper respiratory tract aspergillosis (URTA) have detectable As‐IgG, but their ability to mount an IgA response and its diagnostic utility are unknown. Objectives To determine whether serum As‐IgA can be detected in cats with URTA and evaluate its diagnostic utility alone or combined with As‐IgG. Animals Twenty‐three cats with URTA (Group 1), 32 cats with other respiratory diseases (Group 2), and 84 nonrespiratory controls (Group 3). Methods Serum As‐IgA and As‐IgG was measured by indirect ELISA. Optimal cutoff values were determined by receiver‐operating curve analysis. Sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) for URTA diagnosis were determined. Results Serum IgA was detected in 91.3% of Group 1 cats. The Se of IgA detection was 78.3% and Sp was 96.9% for Group 2, 85.7% for Group 3 and 88.8% for Group 2 and 3 combined. Assay Se for IgG was 100% and Sp was 92.2%. Using combined IgA and IgG results at cutoffs optimized for Sp for IgA and Se for IgG and combined controls (Groups 2 and 3), Se for diagnosis was 100% and Sp was 91.4%. Conclusion and Clinical Importance Most cats with URTA have serum As‐IgA antibodies that can be detected by ELISA. Paired measurement of serum As‐IgA and IgG shows no benefit for diagnosis of feline URTA over IgG alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Taylor
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - I Peters
- TDDS ltd., The Innovation Centre, University of Exeter, Devon, UK
| | - N K Dhand
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - J Whitney
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - L R Johnson
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA
| | - J A Beatty
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - V R Barrs
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Whitney JL, Krockenberger MB, Day MJ, Beatty JA, Dhand NK, Barrs VR. Immunohistochemical Analysis of Leucocyte Subsets in the Sinonasal Mucosa of Cats with Upper Respiratory Tract Aspergillosis. J Comp Pathol 2016; 155:130-140. [PMID: 27576043 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2016.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Revised: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Leucocyte populations in the sinonasal mucosa of cats with and without upper respiratory tract aspergillosis were compared using immunohistochemistry and computer-aided morphometry. Inflammation was identified in the nasal mucosa of all affected cats, comprising predominantly of lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the lamina propria associated with epithelial proliferation and degeneration. There was intense and diffuse expression of class II antigens of the major histocompatibility complex, associated with sites of hyphal invasion with hyperplasia and ulceration of the epithelium adjacent to fungal elements. Significantly more CD79b(+) cells, total lymphocytes, immunoglobulin (Ig)-expressing cells and MAC387(+) cells infiltrated the epithelium and more IgG(+) cells and total Ig-expressing cells infiltrated the lamina propria in affected cats compared with controls. Importantly, the inflammatory profile in affected cats was not consistent with the T helper (Th)1 and Th17 cell-mediated response that confers protective acquired immunity against invasive aspergillosis in dogs and people and in murine models of the infection. This finding may help to explain the development of invasive aspergillosis in systemically immunocompetent cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Whitney
- University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Sydney, Australia.
| | - M B Krockenberger
- University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Sydney, Australia
| | - M J Day
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, North Somerset, UK
| | - J A Beatty
- University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Sydney, Australia
| | - N K Dhand
- University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Sydney, Australia
| | - V R Barrs
- University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Sydney, Australia
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Frisvad JC, Larsen TO. Extrolites of Aspergillus fumigatus and Other Pathogenic Species in Aspergillus Section Fumigati. Front Microbiol 2016; 6:1485. [PMID: 26779142 PMCID: PMC4703822 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an important opportunistic human pathogen known for its production of a large array of extrolites. Up to 63 species have been described in Aspergillus section Fumigati, some of which have also been reliably reported to be pathogenic, including A. felis, A. fischeri, A. fumigatiaffinis, A. fumisynnematus, A. hiratsukae, A. laciniosus, A. lentulus, A. novofumigatus, A. parafelis, A. pseudofelis, A. pseudoviridinutans, A. spinosus, A. thermomutatus, and A. udagawae. These species share the production of hydrophobins, melanins, and siderophores and ability to grow well at 37°C, but they only share some small molecule extrolites, that could be important factors in pathogenicity. According to the literature gliotoxin and other exometabolites can be contributing factors to pathogenicity, but these exometabolites are apparently not produced by all pathogenic species. It is our hypothesis that species unable to produce some of these metabolites can produce proxy-exometabolites that may serve the same function. We tabulate all exometabolites reported from species in Aspergillus section Fumigati and by comparing the profile of those extrolites, suggest that those producing many different kinds of exometabolites are potential opportunistic pathogens. The exometabolite data also suggest that the profile of exometabolites are highly specific and can be used for identification of these closely related species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens C. Frisvad
- Section of Eukaryotic Biotechnology, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of DenmarkKongens Lyngby, Denmark
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