Dear Furkids,
Pakcu nak tanya, is this disease/infections really fatal to cats? Pakcu dok cari info tapi not one suggested benda ni fatal. Treatment dier, just like u said in earlier post, is it really harmful to the cats and wont survive long after?
And lagi satu, Pakcu ni bimbang, sebab dulu bulan 3, masa show kat Mid Valley, Pakcu jadi steward, so ada kucing DSH kawan Pakcu punyer pakcu bawak. Dia menang Best Domestic Shorthair. But one week after, Pakcu call dier, dia kata kucing dia kena sporo. 2 weeks after, that cat died. Masalahnya, sebelum show kucing2 Pakcu ada duk dlm satu sangkar ngan kucing dier, tapi Alhamdulilah my cats till now tak de pun tanda2 tu. Nak tanya, sporo ni kalau ada bila symptom nye leh nampak n kalau after 6 months, tak de benda tu, maknanye memang x der ker or belum timbul lagi, risau laa. Thanks.
Sporotrichosis
Sporotrichosis (fungal infection) is very common here and it can be a potentially serious fungal infection that can infect cats, dogs, or people. The risk of people contracting this disease from infected cats, the seriousness of this disease should never be underestimated and veterinarians or owners may often overlook Sporotrichosis as a potential cause of the symptoms.
What is sporotrichosis and how does an animal acquire it?
Sporotrichosis is an infection caused by the fungus Sporothrix schenckii. This fungus is found in soil and organic debris. Sporotrichosis is more commonly seen in outdoor dogs and in outdoor cats (especially males) that are prone to fighting. In dogs, it is believed that the fungus enters through a puncture wound from a stick or thorn. In cats, it is thought to be transmitted from a scratch or bite from a cat that has contaminated claws or teeth. Humans have become infected through coming in contact with the open, draining sores on infected cats.
What are the symptoms of sporotrichosis?
In cats, the lesions often occur on the head, legs, and tail which are the same locations as most cat bites. The cat bites may abscess and turn into lesions that will not heal and that ulcerate and drain. Cats generally have more of the fungal organisms in the draining fluids and are thus more likely to transmit the disease to humans. Some cats may become systemically sick and develop fevers, loss of appetite, and become lethargic.
In humans, sporotrichosis is more common on the fingers, hands, or face - locations where the person may have had an open wound and come into contact with an infected cat. The nodule may open and drain and the surrounding lymph nodes may become swollen as well.
How is sporotrichosis diagnosed?
The diagnosis of sporotrichosis is very straightforward in the cat. A large number of the Sporothrix organisms are usually present in the wound and draining fluid and they can be identified under a microscope.
What is the treatment for sporotrichosis?
Infected cats are treated with oral potassium iodide. Treatment usually lasts 4 to 8 weeks. Ketoconazole, and the more expensive itraconazole, are sometimes used as an alternative therapy. All of these compounds can be toxic to cats and are administered with caution and at lower doses than dogs.
Since Sporothrix is a fungus and not a bacteria, antibiotics are ineffective. Animals with sporotrichosis should not be given steroids.
How is sporotrichosis prevented?
Prevention consists of prompt treatment of all puncture wounds and minimizing cat fights by neutering cats and keeping them indoors.
Sporotrichosis is common enough that we should keep it in mind if our pets develop nodules or non-healing sores, particularly if they spend time in the outdoor or are involved in cat skirmishes.
Extracted from Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.
Sporotrichosis in animals
Ulcerative skin disease in a cat with Sporotrichosis; a cat with this disease must be handled with caution as this form can be contagious to other animals and to man
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Ulcerative skin disease in a cat with Sporotrichosis; a cat with this disease must be handled with caution as this form can be contagious to other animals and to man
Sporotrichosis can be diagnosed in domestic and wild mammals. In veterinary medicine it is most frequenttly seen in cats and horses. Cats have a particularly severe form of cutaneous sporotrichosis and also can serve as a source of zoonotic infection to persons who handle them and are exposed to exudate from skin lesions.
Diagnosis
Sporotrichosis is a chronic disease with slow progression and often subtle symptoms. It is difficult to diagnose, as many other diseases share similar symptoms and therefore must be ruled out.
Patients with sporotrichosis will have antibody against the fungus S. schenckii, however, due to variability in sensitivity and specificity, it may not be a reliable diagnosis for this disease. The confirming diagnosis remains culturing the fungus from the skin, sputum, synovial fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid.
Cats with sporotrichosis are unique in that the exudate from their lesions may contain numerous organisms. This makes cytological evaluation of exudate a valuable diagnostic tool in this species. Exudate is pyogranulomatous and phagocytic cells may be packed with yeast forms. These are variable in size, but many are cigar-shaped.
Prevention
The majority of sporotrichosis cases occur when the fungus is introduced through a cut or puncture in the skin while handling vegetations containing the fungal spores. Prevention of this disease includes wearing long sleeves and gloves while working with soil, hay bales, rose bushes, pine seedlings, and sphagnum moss.
Treatment
Treatment of sporotrichosis depends on the severity and location of the disease. The following are treatment options for this condition:[3]
* Saturated potassium iodide solution
Although its mechanism is unknown, oral application of potassium iodide in droplet form can cure cutaneous sporotrichosis. This usually requires 3 to 6 months of treatment.
* Itraconazole (Sporanox) and fluconazole
These are antifungal drugs. Itraconazole is currently the drug of choice and is significantly more effective than fluconazole. Fluconazole should be reserved for patients who cannot tolerate itraconazole.
* Amphotericin B
This antifungal medication is delivered intravenously. Many patients, however, cannot tolerate Amphotericin B due to its potential side effects of fever, nausea, and vomiting.
In case of sporotrichosis meningitis, the patient may be given a combination of Amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine.
* Surgery
In cases of bone infection and cavitatory nodules in the lungs, surgery may be necessary.
Complications
Sporotrichosis can develop into other diseases, including cellulitis, sarcoidosis, and tuberculosis.
Re: ngape "bontot" & paha Chello cam ade luka2?
dengan pertolongan & nasihat rakan2 semua..saya akan cuba buat yang terbaik untuk selamatkan Chello kesayangan saya & kucing2 saya yang lain..
baru tadi ade sorang guy (bujang lagi) from cyberjaya call. interested nak ambik ChiChi (male yang kaler oren tuh).. dia nak ambik sekarang jugak tp saye cakap saye kat office lagi...so, dia nk ambik mlm nih.
kalau kat area Kajang nih...mane vet yang dekat ekk..?? antar kat pet shop biasa tuh bleh ker...situ ade Doc gak kan..??? 
thank filinlee..so far, nama2 klinik yang u ollss suggest, saya dah siap masuk 1 list..in case "emerjensi" memalam..mlm nih insyaAllah saya akan bawak dia....
.. daddy baru dia tuh pun dah x sabar dah..& saya pun rasa x bleh nk buat risiko simpan dia lelame...
... insyaAllah..dengan sokongan korang sume...saya akan try yg terbaik untuk anak teruna saya tuh...
