Cutaneous and subcutaneous nodular scedosporiosis in a cat.

Abstract

This article reports the clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of a rare case of cutaneous and subcutaneous scedosporiosis in a 16-year-old domestic cat. The animal presented with a painful, ulcerated nodule at the base of the tail. Histopathology and fungal culture confirmed a pyogranulomatous dermatitis with hyaline hyphae, and molecular analysis identified Scedosporium sphaerospermum, a soil-dwelling fungus newly described. Despite targeted antifungal treatment with itraconazole and topical ciclopirox olamine, the cat developed systemic complications and died. This case emphasizes the challenges associated with diagnosing and managing opportunistic fungal infections in companion animals. It is, to the authors' knowledge, the first case of infection caused by S. sphaerospermum.