Feline Sporotrichosis

Two species of the genus Sporothrix are associated with anthropozoonotic sporotrichosis: Sporothrix schenckii and Sporothrix brasiliensis. These species will be the focus of this chapter, describing the clinical and epidemiological aspects and the challenges for the treatment and diagnosis of sporotrichosis in Felis catus domesticus (domestic cats). Feline sporotrichosis caused by the newly emerging species S. brasiliensis is a major challenge and breaks the paradigm of sporotrichosis described in textbooks. Feline sporotrichosis caused by S. brasiliensis has been described in the last decade as a serious disease (disseminated or systemic) that is difficult to treat, resulting in a high mortality rate for cats and high cat-to-human transmission. Challenges in the management of the disease will be addressed, including protocols for the diagnosis and treatment of this emerging mycosis in animals based on a recent guide for the management of feline sporotrichosis.