Aspergillosis in Cats

What is aspergillosis?

Aspergillosis is an infection caused by the Aspergillus fungus. This fungus grows on dead leaves, stored grain, compost piles, and other decaying vegetation. 

The Aspergillus species includes more than 180 types of molds that occur widely in indoor and outdoor environments. Aspergillus is commonly found as a lacy mold that grows on foods.

Although most Aspergillus molds are harmless, a few can cause serious illnesses in people and in cats with weakened immune systems (such as those infected with feline leukemia virus or feline infectious peritonitis), underlying lung disease, chronic upper respiratory infections (herpesvirus), or asthma. The most common species of Aspergillus that cause problems in cats are Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus felis, although several other species can also cause illness.

How do cats get aspergillosis?

Aspergillus is an opportunistic pathogen and usually affects animals whose immune systems are suppressed or compromised. Aspergillus fungi shed microscopic spores that float in the air and are easily inhaled. Fortunately, cats have several protective mechanisms built into their bodies to help prevent infection.

In the nose, the nasal sinuses trap debris, as does the mucus layer that lines the nasal passages. A cat can also sneeze to expel inhaled debris and foreign bodies. 

In the remainder of the respiratory tract, the mucus lining of the passages traps debris that enters the airways, and tiny hair-like cilia constantly move to “sweep” the mucus and trapped debris up and out of the airways. A healthy immune system provides active protection of the entire body, preventing invasion and fighting infections within the body.

If Aspergillus spores, called conidia, are inhaled and manage to evade or bypass these protective respiratory mechanisms, the spores can begin to grow, which makes them more difficult for the body to remove. Some strains of the fungus are more likely to cause disease than others, and a cat may simply be exposed to so many spores that its defenses are overwhelmed.

Aspergillosis begins when susceptible cats inhale mold spores. Most infections are localized in the nose (nasal aspergillosis), but some cats develop mild to serious lung infections as well. The deadliest form of aspergillosis, called systemic or disseminated aspergillosis, occurs when the infection spreads beyond the lungs to other organs. Even when discovered and treated early, systemic aspergillosis is often fatal.

What are the clinical signs of aspergillosis?

The different forms of aspergillosis affect cats in different ways.

Nasal aspergillosis is divided into two forms. In cats, the less common form is called sino-nasal aspergillosis (SNA), in which the fungus destroys the delicate bones of the sinuses, causing an accumulation of mucous and fungus commonly referred to as a “fungal ball” or aspergilloma.

A pet owner will observe a chronic nasal discharge that often has a strong odor, lasts for weeks to months, does not respond to antibiotics or other common therapies, and typically involves only one nostril. Nosebleeds may occur intermittently, and the edges of the nostrils are often rough, inflamed, and ulcerated (the tissue breaks open and bleeds due to the discharge, which is very irritating). The cat may also sneeze and paw at its nose or face.

In cats, a condition called sino-orbital aspergillosis (SOA) more commonly occurs, in which a reactive fungal mass develops behind the eye, resulting in exophthalmos (a bulging eye). Depending on the extent of this swelling, the cat may experience eye abnormalities and possibly neurological abnormalities as the disease progresses.

In systemic or disseminated aspergillosis, the fungus enters the body through the respiratory tract and travels to other organs via the bloodstream, creating a more serious generalized or systemic fungal infection. The clinical signs of systemic aspergillosis depend on the location where the fungus settles in the body. Common sites of infection in cats include the lungs, central nervous system, and gastrointestinal tract.

If these areas are infected, clinical signs include cough, rapid breathing, muffled lung sounds, inappetence (lack of appetite), diarrhea, abdominal pain, and neurological changes. Most cats with systemic aspergillosis will not have nasal symptoms. Unfortunately, most cats are terminally ill by the time they exhibit clinical signs.

How is aspergillosis diagnosed?

To diagnose nasal aspergillosis, at least two of the following four criteria must be met for most cats:

1. Radiographs (X-rays), CT (computed tomography) scans, or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) indicate fungal infection. MRI and CT are considered more diagnostic than X-rays.
2. Fungal plaques or aspergillomas may be visible with rhinoscopy (a technique in which a narrow, needle-like camera is inserted into the nose).
3. Aspergillus organisms are seen in a tissue biopsy or cultured from a tissue biopsy. The fungus is not usually seen in nasal discharge but may be recovered by flushing the nasal cavity.
4. A blood test is positive for antibodies against an Aspergillus species. These tests must be interpreted with caution, however, as the different species of Aspergillus do not cross-react on tests, so separate tests are needed for each species.

Fungal species are sometimes identified using DNA testing on cultured fungal colonies or biopsy samples, but these tests can also be difficult to interpret.

General anesthesia is necessary for diagnostic imaging (X-rays or CT scans), as well as for rhinoscopy. In many cases, the advanced equipment required to perform these tests is only available at specialty referral practices or veterinary teaching hospitals. In some cases, the yellow Aspergillus plaques can be seen within the nasal passages without specialized diagnostic equipment.

The diagnosis of systemic aspergillosis can be more challenging. In cats, evidence of systemic disease is most often found in the lungs using X-rays or a CT scan. 

Ultrasound of the abdomen may also show characteristic or suspicious lesions. Unfortunately, there is currently no blood test accurate enough to diagnose systemic aspergillosis outright, but blood tests can be used to support a diagnosis of the disease. In some cases, the draining fluid or a tissue sample may contain Aspergillus organisms that are visible microscopically. If the organism is not visible, it may be cultured from fluid or tissue samples.

How is aspergillosis treated?

Fungal infections generally require extended treatment and many of the drugs traditionally used to treat aspergillosis have toxic side effects. Advances in techniques and medications have improved the success of nasal aspergillosis treatment, but systemic aspergillosis is still challenging to treat.

Treatment of nasal aspergillosis

Sino-nasal aspergillosis is often treated with systemic antifungal agents, such as itraconazole (Itrafungol®, Sporanox®) posaconazole (Noxafil®, Posanol®), and/or amphotericin B (Fungizone®). Other agents sometimes used include terbinafine (Lamisil®) and caspofungin (Caspofungin®). Infusing topical intranasal 1% clotrimazole has also been used successfully in a few cases. Because cats are prone to progression from the sino-nasal form of the disease to the sino-orbital form, a combination of topical and systemic therapy can often be helpful in improving outcomes.

"Sino-nasal aspergillosis is often treated with systemic antifungal agents."

In some cases, surgically debriding the fungal lesions within the nasal and/or sinus cavity may improve the success of medical therapy, although multiple surgeries may be necessary. Enucleation (removing the eye) and other eye surgeries may also be recommended if there has been a poor response to therapy, or if the eye is blind and removing the fungal mass behind the eye may improve the clinical outcome for the cat.

Treatment of systemic aspergillosis

Treatment of systemic or disseminated aspergillosis in cats is very difficult. Antifungal treatments are available, although they can be expensive. Long-term treatment (for months to years) is often required. Drugs such as itraconazole and posaconazole have been used for this condition, but their effectiveness is unclear.

What is the prognosis?

The prognosis is generally good for cases with localized nasal aspergillosis. The prognosis for systemic aspergillosis is very guarded (uncertain) to poor.

Can I get aspergillosis from my cat?

Birds are the most common source of infection in humans. While it is possible to contract aspergillosis from your cat, it is less likely if you practice good personal hygiene, especially handwashing, and avoid handling any discharges. If your cat has been diagnosed with aspergillosis, ask your physician for advice.