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Medical mycology2009; 47(6); 625-639; doi: 10.1080/13693780802512519

Cryptococcosis in domestic animals in Western Australia: a retrospective study from 1995-2006.

Abstract: A retrospective study of cryptococcosis in domestic animals residing in Western Australia was conducted over an 11-year-period (from 1995 to 2006) by searching the data base of Murdoch University Veterinary Teaching hospital and the largest private clinical pathology laboratory in Perth. Cryptococcosis was identified in 155 animals: 72 cats, 57 dogs, 20 horses, three alpacas, two ferrets and a sheep. There was no seasonal trend apparent from the dates of diagnosis. Taking into account the commonness of accessions to Murdoch University, cats were five to six times more likely to develop this disease than dogs, and three times more likely than horses, while horses were almost twice as likely as dogs to become infected. Amongst the feline cohort, Ragdoll and Birman breeds were over-represented, while in dogs several pedigree breeds were similarly overrepresented. Dogs and horses tended to develop disease at an early age (one to five years), while cats were presented over a much wider range of ages. In cats and dogs the upper respiratory tract was the most common primary site of infection, while horses and alpacas tended to have lower respiratory involvement. The most striking finding of the study was the high frequency with which C. gattii was identified, with infections attributable to this species comprising 5/9 cats, 11/22 dogs, 9/9 horses and 1/1 alpaca, where appropriate testing was conducted. Preliminary molecular genotyping suggested that most of the C. gattii infections in domestic animals (9/9 cases) were of the VGII genotype. This contrasts the situation on the eastern seaboard of Australia, where disease attributable to C. gattii is less common and mainly due to the VGI genotype. C. gattii therefore appears to be an important cause of cryptococcosis in Western Australia.
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Publication Date: 2009-03-24 PubMed ID: 19306217DOI: 10.1080/13693780802512519Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article analyzes the occurrence of cryptococcosis, a fungal disease, in domestic animals in Western Australia from 1995 to 2006. The study discovered a higher incidence of this disease in cats, and also identified a common fungus species C. gattii as a significant cause.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers conducted a retrospective analysis by reviewing the database records of Murdoch University Veterinary Teaching Hospital and the largest private clinical pathology lab in Perth.
  • This study spanned an 11-year period from 1995 to 2006 and included domestic animals like cats, dogs, horses, alpacas, ferrets, and sheep.

Findings

  • The disease was diagnosed in 155 animals, with more number of cats affected (72) followed by dogs (57) and horses (20). It also included three alpacas, two ferrets, and a sheep.
  • The researchers found no clear seasonal trend in the incidence of the disease.
  • Considering the frequency of accessions to Murdoch University, the study revealed that cats are five to six times more likely to acquire the disease compared to dogs and three times more than horses.
  • Horses, though, were twice as likely as dogs to contract the disease.
  • In cats and dogs, Ragdoll, Birman, and several purebred breeds appeared more vulnerable to the disease.
  • Dogs and horses typically developed the disease at an early age, between one to five years, while cats were affected over a wider age range.

Pattern of Infection

  • The most common primary site of infection in cats and dogs was the upper respiratory tract, whereas in horses and alpacas, the lower respiratory tract got affected.
  • The most critical finding of the study was the high frequency of the C.gattii fungus, a particular species of cryptococcus that was responsible for most incidences of the disease.
  • A majority of the C.gattii infections in domestic animals were linked to the VGII genotype, a finding that markedly contrasts the situation on Australia’s eastern seaboard where C. gattii diseases are less common and attributed mainly to the VGI genotype.

Conclusion

  • From the data collected, the researchers determined that the C. gattii fungus is a significant cause of cryptococcosis in domestic animals in Western Australia.

Cite This Article

APA
McGill S, Malik R, Saul N, Beetson S, Secombe C, Robertson I, Irwin P. (2009). Cryptococcosis in domestic animals in Western Australia: a retrospective study from 1995-2006. Med Mycol, 47(6), 625-639. https://doi.org/10.1080/13693780802512519

Publication

Medical mycology
ISSN: 1460-2709
NlmUniqueID: 9815835
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 47
Issue: 6
Pages: 625-639

Researcher Affiliations

McGill, S
  • School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Malik, R
    Saul, N
      Beetson, S
        Secombe, C
          Robertson, I
            Irwin, P

              MeSH Terms

              • Animals
              • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
              • Camelids, New World / microbiology
              • Cats / microbiology
              • Cryptococcosis / drug therapy
              • Cryptococcosis / epidemiology
              • Cryptococcosis / microbiology
              • Cryptococcosis / veterinary
              • Cryptococcus gattii / genetics
              • Cryptococcus gattii / isolation & purification
              • Cryptococcus neoformans / genetics
              • Cryptococcus neoformans / isolation & purification
              • Dogs / microbiology
              • Genotype
              • Horses / microbiology
              • Hospitals, Animal
              • Hospitals, Teaching
              • Prevalence
              • Retrospective Studies

              Citations

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