Fungal Infections of the Central Nervous System in Small Animals: Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Management

R Timothy Bentley; Amanda R Taylor; Stephanie A Thomovsky

doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2017.08.010

Fungal Infections of the Central Nervous System in Small Animals: Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Management

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2018 Jan;48(1):63-83. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2017.08.010. Epub 2017 Oct 6.

Authors

R Timothy Bentley¹, Amanda R Taylor², Stephanie A Thomovsky³

Affiliations

¹ Neurology and Neurosurgery, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, Lynn Hall, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Neurology and Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Greene Hall, 1130 Wire Road, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
³ Neurology and Neurosurgery, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, Lynn Hall, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.

PMID: 28988704
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2017.08.010

Abstract

Small animal mycoses vary geographically. Different clinical presentations are seen in animals with infection of the central nervous system (CNS), including multifocal meningoencephalomyelitis, intracranial lesions that accompany sinonasal lesions, rapidly progressive ventriculitis, or solitary granuloma of the brain or spinal cord. Systemic, nasal, or extraneural clinical signs are common but, especially in granuloma cases, do not always occur. Surgery may have a diagnostic and therapeutic role in CNS granuloma. There have been recent advancements in serology. Fluconazole, voriconazole, and posaconazole cross the blood-brain barrier, but voriconazole is neurotoxic to cats. Liposomal and lipid-encapsulated formulations of amphotericin B are preferred.

Keywords: Aspergillus; Blastomyces; Brain; Cat; Cladophialophora; Coccidioides; Cryptococcus; Dog.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
Cat Diseases / diagnosis
Cat Diseases / drug therapy
Cat Diseases / microbiology*
Cat Diseases / physiopathology
Cats
Central Nervous System / microbiology
Central Nervous System Diseases / diagnosis
Central Nervous System Diseases / microbiology
Central Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology
Central Nervous System Diseases / veterinary*
Dog Diseases / diagnosis
Dog Diseases / drug therapy
Dog Diseases / microbiology*
Dog Diseases / physiopathology
Dogs
Mycoses / diagnosis
Mycoses / drug therapy
Mycoses / physiopathology
Mycoses / veterinary*
Prognosis

Substances

Antifungal Agents