Primary conjunctival sporotrichosis in three cats from Northeastern Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Classically, sporotrichosis occurs as a chronic granulomatous lymphocutaneous infection. The extracutaneous form is uncommon and may affect the eye without cutaneous involvement. The most frequent form of ocular sporotrichosis reported in humans is a granulomatous conjunctivitis. There are no previous reports on primary ocular sporotrichosis in cats. PROCEDURES: Three mixed breed cats rescued from shelters were referred by the veterinarian for ophthalmic evaluation with a complaint of conjunctivitis nonresponsive to treatment with no evidence of skin disease or systemic disease. Complete ophthalmic examination, conjunctival cytology, and microbiological analysis were performed. RESULTS: Ophthalmic examinations revealed epiphora, purulent ocular discharge, conjunctival hyperemia, and a mass in the palpebral conjunctiva. Conjunctival cytology revealed segmented and degenerated neutrophils, conjunctival epithelial cells, and an abundant number of round and oval cells compatible with Sporothrix spp. Microbiological culture was performed and confirmed the presence of fungi from the Sporothrix schenckii complex. All animals were treated with oral itraconazole; two animals received topical itraconazole in association with oral treatment. Case 1 was refractory to treatment, and iodate potassium was combined with itraconazole therapy without resolution at the time of this publication. Cases 2 and 3 had complete resolution of conjunctival lesions with four months of oral and topical itraconazole therapy. CONCLUSION: Conjunctival sporotrichosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis of conjunctivitis in cats from endemic regions. Conjunctival cytology is an important tool that can aid early diagnosis.

Normal aerobic bacterial conjunctival flora in the Crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus) and Coati (Nasua nasua) housed in captivity in pernambuco and paraiba (Northeast, Brazil).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the normal aerobic bacterial conjunctival population of the Coatis and the Crab-eating raccoons housed in captivity in the Pernambuco and Paraiba states of Brazil. ANIMALS STUDIED: Ten healthy Coatis and 10 healthy Crab-eating raccoons were selected for this study. Animals are from three zoos situated at the Pernambuco and Paraiba States in the north-east of Brazil. PROCEDURES: After ophthalmologic examination, swabs from healthy animals were carefully collected in order to avoid contamination. Samples were identified and submitted to the laboratory. Swabs were plated for culture on ovine blood agar (8%) and agar Levine and incubated at 37 °C and observed 24 and 48 h. RESULTS: Staphylococcus spp. was the most common microorganism isolated from conjunctival sac. Shigella spp. comprised the Gram-negative genera isolated. Escherichia coli were isolated from the right eye of one Coati that had no growth at contralateral eye. Nine eyes from coatis and 10 from Crab-eating raccoons had no microorganisms isolated. CONCLUSION: Our results were in accordance with previous studies indicating Staphylococcus sp., followed by Corynebacterium spp. as the most common inhabitant of the eyes of most mammalian species.