A case of feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia associated with fungal colonisation: endoscopic features, treatment and follow-up

Case summary A 5-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat presented with a 3-month history of weight loss, chronic diarrhoea and vomiting. Examination revealed a large proximal duodenal lesion eventually diagnosed as feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia (FGESF) associate...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Michael Martineau, Cyril Tilmant, Veronica Risco Castillo, Jacques Guillot, Edouard Reyes-Gomez, Ghita Benchekroun, Valerie Freiche
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2023-05-01
Series:Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/20551169231165246
Description
Summary:Case summary A 5-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat presented with a 3-month history of weight loss, chronic diarrhoea and vomiting. Examination revealed a large proximal duodenal lesion eventually diagnosed as feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia (FGESF) associated with fungal filaments. Histological examination was performed following endoscopic biopsy. Direct examination and mycological culture of the duodenal biopsies revealed the presence of a siphomycetous fungus, which was further identified as Rhizopus microsporus . Treatment with prednisolone and ciclosporin for 3 months led to complete resolution of the clinical signs and marked improvement of the endoscopic lesions. Specific fungal treatment with amphotericin B was poorly tolerated. Relevance and novel information To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the characterisation of a siphomycetous fungus associated with FGESF lesions, and the first endoscopic description and diagnosis of FGESF without surgical biopsies. We hypothesise that the presence of R microsporus occurred because of disrupted mucosal integrity.
ISSN:2055-1169