Pulmonary cryptococcosis and Capillaria aerophila infection in an FIV-positive cat

A 12-year-old, FIV-positive, domestic longhair cat was presented with a his tory of sneezing and coughing during the previous seven months. On thoracic radiographs, a prominent bronchial pattern and three focal, opacified nodu les were seen. Cytology of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid demonstrated spheri cal, capsulate, narrow-necked, budding yeasts within macrophages. Culture o f the fluid yielded a heavy growth of Cryptococcus neoformans var neoforman s. The serum latex cryptococcal antigen agglutination test titre was 158. T he cat was treated with itraconazole and the cough resolved over a 5-month period but then recurred. Repeat thoracic radiographs showed resolution of the pulmonary nodules but a persistent bronchial pattern. Adult nematodes a nd ova with morphology characteristic of Capillaria aerophila were seen in bronchoalveolar ravage fluid and no yeasts were cultured from the fluid. Th e cryptococcal titre was zero. The lungworm infection was treated successfu lly with abamectin and the cough resolved. Immunosuppression related to FIV infection may have predisposed this cat to sequential respiratory tract in fections.