Cerebral phaeohyphomycosis in a Birman kitten

Abstract

Extract A 6-month-old female Birman kitten was presented for long-lasting and repeated seizures. It initially had some response to treatment but deteriorated and was euthanised. At necropsy, the brain was swollen and some of the caudal cerebellum was compressed into the foramen magnum. The right cerebral hemisphere was enlarged and had a round, dark, 5 mm-diameter focus on the dorsal surface of the rostral sigmoid gyrus of the frontal cerebrum. There were smaller dark areas extending caudally into the endomarginal gyrus. When the fixed brain was sliced transversely, the lesions were grey-coloured or translucent and involved most of the rostral half of the right cerebral hemisphere. Histologically, there was severe, extensive pyogranulomatous inflammation with some interspersed areas of spongiosus and oedema. Within the granulomas were variable numbers of branching, pigmented, thin-walled, septate fungal hyphae. Cladosporium bantianum (trichoides) was isolated from the brain. This is the most frequent agent reported from cases of cerebral phaeohyphomycosis.