PHEOHYPHOMYCOSIS CAUSED BY EXOPHIALA-JEANSELMEI IN A CAT

A 10-year-old speyed female cat was referred because of a blue-grey cu taneous nodule on its cheek ventromedial to the right eye, and a nasal squamous cell carcinoma. The blue-grey lesion was surgically excised, and the nasal carcinoma treated cryosurgically using liquid nitrogen. Histological and mycological investigations demonstrated the pigmente d lesion to be a phaeohyphomycotic granuloma caused by Exophiala jeans elmei. Fluconazole and subsequently ketoconazole were administered to prevent recurrence of the infection. The presence of a pigmented nodul e or plaque in the periocular or nasal region should be considered sug gestive of infection with a dematiaceous fungus.