What are Histoplasmosis?
A histoplasmosis infection usually has a gradual onset with chronic, mild symptoms. In rare cases, the infection will be acute with rapid develop in multiple organs. Left untreated, this type of infection can become fatal in two to three weeks. Acute histoplasmosis often disseminates into a systemic disease affecting the gastrointestinal tract, spleen, liver, lymph nodes and on occasion, the eyes. The infection is much more difficult to treat when it has reached this state and may lead to death. Veterinary treatment should be sought as soon as symptoms begin to show.
Histoplasma capsulatum is a fungus that grows in decomposing organic material. It releases spores into the air to spread. When a cat inhales these spores, the particles enter the respiratory system. These particles are small enough to reach the lower respiratory tract. The presence of these fungal spores creates an infection in the cat’s lungs. In a healthy cat, the infection may stay within the respiratory system, but a cat who is under two years of age or has immune deficiencies may experience an infection that spreads to other organs.
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Symptoms of Histoplasmosis in Cats
The type and range of symptoms that develop with histoplasmosis in cats will have very much to do with the severity of the infection and whether or not it has spread to numerous organs. If multiple symptoms develop quickly, emergency veterinary attention should be sought. Symptoms to watch for include:
- Fever
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
- Depression
- Dyspnea (labored breathing)
- Tachypnea (rapid breathing)
- Pleural effusion (fluid near the lungs)
- Crackling in lungs
- Anemia (pale gums)
- Cyanosis (blue/purple lips, gums, or foot pads)
- Diarrhea
- Oral lesions
- Fungal granulomas
- Seizures
- Nystagmus (involuntary eye movement)
- Retinal detachment
- Conjunctivitis
Causes of Histoplasmosis in Cats
The Histoplasma capsulatum fungus can be found in 31 States across America. Areas near the Mississippi River carry greater risk of exposure. Outdoor cats come into contact with the fungus far more than indoor cats. All known causes are as follows:
- Exposure to infected bird or bat droppings
- Exposure to infected moist soil (may be in indoor plant pots)
- Living in areas with damp,nitrogen rich soil
Diagnosis of Histoplasmosis in Cats
Upon arrival to a veterinary clinic or animal hospital, you will be asked to provide your cat’s medical records. This can help identify any potential complications from a compromised immune system. The veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination of the cat. During this process, the vet will attempt to match your cat’s symptoms to the signs of histoplasmosis. X-rays will be taken of the chest and abdomen to see the progression of the infection and to determine which organs have been effected. These images will also show any fluid collection in the abdominal cavity.
A fine needle aspiration biopsy of infected tissue may be collected to identify the microscopic fungal organisms. Often a Wright’s-Giemsa stain will be used to differentiate the small organisms on a blood smear. Histoplasma capsulatum can be identified by its ovular shape. A fungal culture may also be performed with the collected tissue. Cytology of bone marrow is another method of diagnosing a histoplasmosis infection. Blood work will be run, including a complete blood count to reveal anemia in the cat, and a serum chemical profile to look for hypoalbuminemia (low levels of albumin in the blood.) Urinalysis may also show the spilling of protein into the urine.
Treatment of Histoplasmosis in Cats
In very mild cases of histoplasmosis, treatment may not be deemed necessary, however most veterinarians prescribe treatment as a preventative measure to ensure the infection does not progress. If symptoms are severe or if the cat has a deficient immune system, immediate treatment should be sought.
Antifungal Medication
Most cats who have been diagnosed with histoplasmosis will receive a long course of treatment with oral antifungal medication. Medications such as fluconazole and itraconazole are the preferred prescription, with ketoconazole being a less expensive but potentially more toxic alternative. In very severe infections, amphotericin B may be prescribed, but regular monitoring of urine will be needed to look for signs of toxicity. Treatment generally lasts from four to six months.
Supportive Care
Cats suffering from multiple organ infections may need hospitalization to stabilize their organ function. Oxygen supplementation and antibiotic administration may be needed during this time.
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Recovery of Histoplasmosis in Cats
Antifungal medication is successful at ridding histoplasmosis in most instances. You will have to bring the cat to the veterinarian once a month during treatment for assessment and dosage adjustments. Antifungal medication can produce adverse side effects. If the cat is refusing to eat, the dose may need to be reduced. Medication should be administered until the cat has been symptom-free for one month. The cat will need two more check-up appointments, one at three months symptom-free and one at six months, to test for organism presence.
Do all you can to keep your cat out of infected environments to prevent re-exposure to the fungus. Keeping your cat indoors may be the best way to ensure your cat does not contact Histoplasma capsulatum. Change any indoor plant soil to purchased topsoil from a fungus-free area. Most cats do make a complete recovery from histoplasmosis. It should be noted that if the infection progresses to the point of affecting the central nervous system, prognosis is guarded although recovery is still possible.
Histoplasmosis Average Cost
From 289 quotes ranging from $500 - $2,000
Average Cost
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Histoplasmosis Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
ragdoll
One Year
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Eye Issue
My cat was diagnosed with histoplasmosis nearly a month ago and we've been treating with Itraconazole and she has a feeding tube that was placed in her stomach last week. Today she woke up with swollen red eyes that she keeps shut. They don't appear to have any discharge or crust around them at all but I've been cleaning them all day and with warm water and cotton balls. I know histoplasmosis can spread and be throughout the entire body and even the eyes so is this something that could be related to that and if so is there anything I can do to help? She exhibited no eye symptoms last night
Feb. 18, 2021
Answered by Dr. Sara O. DVM
1 Recommendations
Hello this could be spread of her disease to her eyes. It would be best for your cat to see you vet. They can start her on eye drops to help clear this infection. At home I would continue to keep these eyes clean with saline.
Feb. 19, 2021
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domestic short hair
Marshmellow
11 Years
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Sneezing
My cat has a ceruminous gland carcinoma in her left her. She had a chest x-ray to rule out metastasis. The X-ray revealed a severe, diffuse bronchointerstitial pattern. blood work was submitted that was positive for Histoplasmosis. She has no symptoms. She is a house cat. She is 11 years old. I have house plants but have had them for 20 plus years. Were waiting on a urine test to make sure it is defiantly Histoplasmosis. What should I do to make the house free of the fungal spores? Can human transfer Histoplasmosis for the cat? Should all humans who live in the house get tested for Histoplasmosis.
Feb. 10, 2018
2 Recommendations
Histoplasmosis is an uncommon infection in cats but may occur, whilst Histoplasmosis may affect humans testing is unnecessary due to the infrequent nature of infection. Histoplasmosis is generally found in soil and is unavoidable, however infections may occur no matter how rare cases are; you should wait for confirmation from your Veterinarian and follow their guidance. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/canine-and-feline-histoplasmosis-review-widespread-fungus
Feb. 10, 2018
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American Shorthair
Texas
7 Years
3 found this helpful
3 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Anorexia
Sudden Blindness
Lesion On Forehead
My cat was diagnosed with histoplasmosis after ruling out many other illnesses and has been on fluconazole for about 2 weeks. The first week was rough and he quit eating but is doing much better this second week. The vet wants to do the full month of medication and then stop and see if his symptoms return. From everything I've read, histoplasmosis typically requires several months of treatment of fluconazole. Given it took 7-8 months to reach a diagnosis and the fact that he developed sudden blindness a month before treatment started, I'm concerned with taking him off the medication too early and the potential to relapse. Is this a typical treatment approach for histoplasmosis?
Jan. 31, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
3 Recommendations
Thank you for your email. If Texas improves while on the fluconazole, you may want to extend the treatment, and it would be best to discuss that with your veterinarian, as they know more what his specific health status is. If he is on long term Fluconazole, he may need to have periodic blood work to monitor his liver function. I hope that he recovers well.
Feb. 1, 2018
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Domestic long hair
Baby
7 Months
4 found this helpful
4 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Coughing
I have a cat currently on fluconazole for treating histoplasmosis. He’s been on the med for about a month. Is coughing common during treatment? He still had rapid breathing but the labored part seems to be lessening. The cough caused him to swing his head from side to side & seems to take a lot out of him. I’m mostly asking about the strange coughing.
Dec. 20, 2017
4 Recommendations
Treatment for Histoplasmosis can be long and it isn’t unusual for there to be a lot of coughing during treatment, although you should be seeing general improvement as treatment progresses. Treatment will need to be administered for a few months, but you will continue to see improvement day by day during treatment; severe cases of Histoplasmosis may require treatment with another antifungal medication in combination with fluconazole. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Dec. 20, 2017
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Unknown
Seven
3 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
None
I live in Colorado and our veterinarian is very unfamiliar with this since this is not a prevalent issue in our climate. I have been doing as much research as possible but I am having a hard time finding out if there’s anything additional I should/could be doing to help her get through this. She is currently taking Itraconazole .6mls twice a day, and 90mg of Denosyl for her liver enzymes. The only reason why we even have a diagnosis it’s because one of the kittens brought into the rescue with her had to be euthanized and I believe there was some sort of autopsy done. She is showing no symptoms. Before we found out that she had it our vet said she sounded great and they were just going to do an x-ray as a precaution. Since no one out here knows anything about it all I have is information from the internet and a lot of things I’ve read say it’s not a good prognosis. Are there statistics somewhere about how often this is successfully treated?
Histoplasmosis Average Cost
From 289 quotes ranging from $500 - $2,000
Average Cost
$750
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
