CRYPTOCOCCOSIS IN A CAT SEROPOSITIVE FOR FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS

A 5-year-old female Siamese cat was presented to the veterinary teachi ng hospital with a history of bronchopneumonia for 20 days. The cat ha d not responded to antibacterial chemotherapy and had developed a pron ounced submandibular lymphadenopathy. Characteristically encapsulated yeast cells with narrow-necked buds were clearly seen in a fine-needle aspirate of the lymph node with an India ink preparation. Cryptococcu s neoformans var. neoformans was identified. Susceptibility tests on t he isolated strain were performed using antifungal tablets. The strain was sensitive to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole and ketoco nazole and was resistant to 5-fluorocytosine. The cat was positive for feline immunodeficiency virus. Nevertheless, the cat was treated with ketoconazole for 3 months and apparently recovered. Three months late r the animal was presented in a precomatose state. The owners refused to treat the animal and the cat was destroyed.