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Fungal Infections
Infections caused by inhaling environmental fungal spores. Major types include aspergillosis, blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, and cryptococcosis. Immunocompromised cats (FeLV, FIV, cancer, diabetes) are most susceptible. Treatment is difficult and prolonged.
Key Facts
- Aspergillosis: nasal or disseminated; cats with poor immune systems most at risk
- Blastomycosis: geographic (Mississippi/Ohio River valleys); dogs 10x more susceptible than humans, 100x more than cats
- Spores are inhaled and can spread from lungs to eyes, bones, skin, brain
- Diagnosis is challenging: biopsy, culture, serology, imaging (CT/MRI may be needed)
- Treatment: long-term antifungals (itraconazole, fluconazole, amphotericin B)
- Treatment can take months and is expensive
- Pets may worsen initially on treatment as dying organisms trigger inflammation
- Prognosis: nasal forms better than disseminated; brain involvement is often fatal
- Relapses common, especially if treatment stopped too early
- Blastomycosis is NOT contagious between animals or to humans
- Cryptococcosis: most common nasal fungal infection in cats; blood antigen test is accurate