How Cryptococcosis Infection Affects our Dear Pets.

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The good thing is that fungal infection does not affect our pets, because the moment that it can do that, it spreads fast into the central nervous system, into the eyes, the no marrow, the kidneys, the liver, and even the skin especially the neck and the face. However, the chances of spores infecting an open wound are rare, not impossible, and when the affected organs start to fail, the infection could turn into a life-threatening one.

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Cryptococcosis is highly common amongst cats but can affect other animals like horses, sheep, goats, wildlife as well and birds. Cats are affected with chronic cryptococcosis, which is often limited to the upper respiratory tract, with the nasal cavity as the primary sign noticed.
Secondary clinical signs of the infection are more common as the progression of the infection happens, and in dogs, they include; Skin lesions, depression, dilated pupils, weight loss, appetite loss, blindness, circling, depression, swelling over the bridge of the nose, sneezing, growth in the nostrils, behavioral changes, blindness, and several others.

Cryptococcosis is caused by spores that are inhaled from cryptococcus fungus that could grow in the soil, excrement, or even a decaying wood, The spore then enters the nasal cavity and spreads to the lungs through its growth on surrounding tissues.

These spores then get into the bloodstream and invade other body parts like the eyes, the skin, the lymph nodes, the spleen, the GI tract, the pancreas, or the central nervous system. The spread of cryptococcosis all through the body of a cat is known as a systemic fungal disease, multiple body organs could be harmed and the after-effect depends greatly on the particular affected organ.

Cryptococcosis could be tested in different ways, the use of cytology, fungal culture, and latex agglutination test could be used. Let's check them out one after another;

Latex agglutination test: This is an antigen test that helps to detect the presence of cryptococcal antigen in the serum of a cat or CSF, It usually takes about 2-3 days for the test result to get ready.
Histopathology: Biopsy samples are taken out of organs, tissues, or necropsy specimens and then sectioned and stained for scanning of fungus.
Cytology: This involves the swapping of the pet's nostrils to get a sample of the nasal discharge and then have it observed under a microscope. In another way, a sample may be obtained with a fine needle aspirate or urine cerebrospinal fluid.
Fungal culture: A sample is often taken from a tissue, urine, or CSF. There could be a case of false negative or false positive results, which often takes 2 weeks before either of them comes out.
Latex agglutination test: This test is an antigen test that helps detect the presence of cryptococcal antigen in a cat's serum. There is also a case of having a false positive and false negative result following this test, usually available within 2-3 days.

To treat cats from cryptococcosis, a veterinary doctor will prescribe antifungal medication, and the type of medication prescribed will depend on how severe the infection is. While the treatment is still going on, regular monthly checks are also very important, Urine tests are carried out periodically, this is to help maintain the function of both the liver and the kidney depending on the prescribed treatment.

If it is a dog that is affected, then antifungal drugs will also be prescribed, often it would be administered for 6-12 months. Normal contact with an affected dog may not be risky, but to prevent your dog from even contracting the infection, you need to restrict your pet from going close.

Quick treatment of the infection is what makes it possible, and it does not have any neurological involvement. Some cats may relapse and require treatment again for cryptococcosis. It is also not a zoonotic infection, so humans can relax and not get infected by their pets, It is also not transmittable to other cats, as the fungal spores have to be inhaled from the environment.