P‐18 Cryptococcosis in São Paulo (Brazil): clinical and epidemiological features (1992–2003)

Abstract

Cryptococcosis is a relatively frequent disease in the southwest region of Brazil. We have diagnosed 19 cases of cryptococcosis (1.6 cases/year) at our hospital in the last 12 years. Cats were most frequently affected (18 feline and one canine) among our cases. The disease was most frequent in purebred Siamese cats (55.5 %), and in male cats (77.8 %) with an age predisposition of 4‐ to 6‐year‐old animals (56.2%) and 7‐ to 9‐year‐old animals (18.8 %). The diagnosis was established by cytologic and histopathologic examination, fungal culture and serologic evaluation. All cases was caused by Cryptococcus neoformans serotype AD. We used fungal culture as the gold standard for the diagnosis. Histopathology was positive in 93.3% of cases and the cytologic examination in 75% of cases. Most cats were FIV and FeLV negative. Ocular involvement was found only in the canine case which is the first report of canine cryptococcosis in Brazil. Itraconazole (10 mg/kg once daily) as the sole therapy or in conjunction with 5‐fluorocytosine was effective in 95% of the patients. Funding: Self‐funded.