Caracterização dos agentes causadores de micoses profundas em gatos atendidos em uma clínica veterinária na cidade de Manaus - AM: Isolamento, identificação e sensibilidade antifúngica

Abstract

This study aimed to isolate and identify the causative agents of deep mycoses in cats treated at a veterinary clinic in Manaus-AM, as well as perform antifungal sensitivity testing. The project included molecular identification of the fungal agents causing mycoses, description of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of cats affected by cryptococcosis and sporotrichosis, as well as investigation of the isolates' sensitivity to antifungal drugs, including amphotericin B, ketoconazole, fluconazole, and itraconazole. Samples were collected from 38 cats, 78.9% showed fungal agents, with 96.6% being identified as Sporothrix spp. and only 3.3% (n=1) as Cryptococcus spp. The majority of cats affected by sporotrichosis were male (82.7%) and two years old (48.2%). Semi-domiciled or free-roaming cats were the most affected, living in the urban area of Manaus. The molecular identification of the fungal agents was performed through sequencing of the ITS1 and ITS4 regions. All three Sporothrix isolates analyzed by sequencing showed 100% similarity to the type isolate of Sporothrix brasiliensis. The isolate causing the cryptococcosis case showed 100% sequence similarity to Cryptococcus neoformans. Antifungal susceptibility testing showed that all 29 Sporothrix isolates and the Cryptococcus neoformans isolate were sensitive to the antifungal drugs routinely used in veterinary practice.