Cryptococcosis in Cats - Symptoms and Treatment

Author: Laura McKinney
Date Of Creation: 3 August 2021
Update Date: 6 November 2024
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CRYPTOCOCCOSIS
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Feline cryptococcosis is the systemic disease caused by fungi more common in cats, however, its incidence in the feline population is low. Cryptococcosis occurs most frequently in the nasal region, presenting an edema that can sometimes become very pronounced due to the development of a fungal granuloma. Other times, cryptococcosis affects the lungs, eyes, nervous system or has a systemic form, when it occurs in various areas of the body when distributed through the hematogenous or lymphatic route. Treatment is based on the use of therapy specifically designed to kill yeast and, occasionally, resection of the fungal granuloma in the cat can also be performed.


In this PeritoAnimal article, we'll talk about cryptococcosis in cats, its symptoms and treatment, so that you can better understand this very common disease and learn to identify it.

what is feline cryptococcosis

Feline cryptococcosis is an infectious disease that affects cats and is caused by fungi. Specifically, the most frequently isolated fungal agent is the Cryptococcus neoformans, being a disease associated with habitats where there are birds, mainly pigeons, because they are found in their feces. It can also be caused by Cryptococcus gattii, generally in areas with a tropical or subtropical climate, and the source of infection is the plant matter of certain trees.

It is a small-sized yeast with worldwide distribution. It has a capsule that, in addition to protecting it against dryness, makes it difficult for the cat's immune system to recognize it in order to trigger the immune response necessary for its elimination. However, it's a low incidence disease.


A risk factor for the development of cryptococcosis in cats caused by C. neoformans it is the presence of immunosuppressive diseases such as feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency. However, the infection by C. gattii it can occur in individuals with no compromised immune system. However, in immunocompromised individuals the infection is usually more severe, whereas in individuals with a strong immune system, the infection is usually localized in the region. nasal, without spreading.

How is the pathogenesis of cryptococcosis?

The main source of cryptococcosis infection in cats is through yeast inhalation, which are deposited in the upper airways, where they produce nasal granulomas. If they reach the lower pulmonary airways, they cause granulomas in the lung.


O fungus can spread to other locations, such as the central nervous system, via blood, lymphatic or local invasion through the cribriform layer of the ethmoid bone, which connects the brain to the nasal cavity. They can also reach other places such as the eyes, face and skin. If a severe systemic form of the disease occurs, the yeast can spread to organs such as the spleen, heart, kidneys, digestive organs, muscles, or lymph nodes.

Symptoms of cryptococcosis in cats

Cryptococcosis can cause very different clinical signs depending on the location of the yeast and its degree of dissemination. There can be several types of cryptococcosis in cats: nasal, pulmonary, nervous, ocular and systemic.

nasal cryptococcosis

In nasal cryptococcosis in cats, the most common symptoms are respiratory, with upper respiratory tract symptoms:

  • Mucopurulent or bloody nasal or bilateral discharge.
  • Rhinitis.
  • Nasal swelling.
  • Granulomas.
  • Sneezing.
  • Respiratory rales.
  • Ache.
  • Breathing difficulty.

Pulmonary cryptococcosis

This type of cryptococcosis in cats occurs when yeast affects the lungs and granulomas, pneumonia foci, and infiltrates around the bronchi are produced. lower airway symptoms, like:

  • Cough.
  • Breathing difficulty.
  • Fever.
  • Pulmonary noises.

Nervous cryptococcosis

Cryptococcosis can also affect the nervous system, where it can be observed. symptomsnervous which may be a consequence of encephalitis or meningitis due to the presence of yeast in the central nervous system, such as:

  • Dilation of the pupils (mydriasis).
  • Change of gear.
  • Discoordination.
  • Indifference.
  • Total or partial blindness.

ocular cryptococcosis

When yeast enters the eye, the following symptoms occur:

  • Optic neuritis.
  • Chorioretinitis.
  • Mydriasis.

systemic cryptococcosis

When cryptococcosis affects different regions of the cat's body, a variety of symptoms can occur, this being the most severe form of the disease. Among these symptoms, the following stand out:

  • Fever.
  • Cough.
  • Pulmonary condensation.
  • Anorexia.
  • Weight loss.
  • Weakness.
  • Ataxia.
  • Mucosal ulcers.
  • Difficulty walking.
  • Vomiting.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Cutaneous granulomas.
  • Enlarged lymph nodes.

Diagnosis of cryptococcosis in cats

The diagnosis is made considering, in addition to the clinical signs and clinical history of the animal, laboratory and complementary exams, including the isolation and identification of the microorganism by cytology and culture, as well as the determination of the yeast capsule antigen. These exams are as follows:

  • THE cytology it is performed by puncturing the affected areas, such as lymph nodes, masses in the nasal region or skin. Subsequently, it is observed under a microscope with a color such as Gram, methylene blue, Wright and Chinese ink, to visualize the organism. It is an easy-to-detect organism due to its characteristic polysaccharide capsule.
  • THE culture it is performed from cerebrospinal fluid samples or exudates. Samples should be incubated on Sabouraud agar or blood agar at a temperature between 25 and 35 ºC. After 36-72 hours, if positive, bright creamy-white colonies will appear. the colonies of C. neoformans are less mucous than those of C. gattii. To detect yeast, it is necessary to visualize the capsule and confirm its biochemical characteristics, such as its ability to reduce nitrates to nitrites and hydrolyze urea.
  • To detect the capsule antigen, the latex agglutination test, or ELISA, is performed with samples of blood serum, cerebrospinal fluid or urine. This test has high sensitivity and specificity in the cat.

Chest radiography can be useful to visualize pulmonary and bronchial changes in the case of pulmonary cryptococcosis.

Treatment of feline cryptococcosis

The therapeutic protocol for cryptococcosis in cats includes treatment with antifungal to kill yeasts and surgical resection of the granulomas. THE surgical resection is performed in cats with granulomas in the nasal cavity as an adjunct to medical treatment with antifungal agents.

The most used antifungals in the treatment of cryptococcosis in cats are:

  • Fluconazole: it is the most common antifungal drug today because it is the most effective and safest. A dose of 50 mg/12 hours is used orally. It is also effective for treating nerve infections by crossing the blood-brain barrier.
  • itraconazole: itraconazole for cats is also effective as fluconazole, but it can be toxic to the liver and, therefore, it demands attention in its prescription.
  • Ketoconazole: It is effective but not useful for cryptococcosis nervosa, and can cause side effects such as vomiting and loss of appetite in cats.
  • Amphotericin B with 5-fluorocytosine: it is a very useful treatment when there are nervous signs. Used to be more used a few years ago.

In any case, it is essential to go to the veterinary clinic so that a professional can confirm the disease and establish the best treatment. You should never medicate a cat on your own.

Now that you know everything about the cryptococcosis in cats, we invite you to inform yourself with the following video about the most common diseases among cats:

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Cryptococcosis in Cats - Symptoms and Treatment, we recommend that you enter our Infectious Diseases section.