Sino-orbital aspergillosis with obstructive cervical lymphadenopathy in a cat caused by Aspergillus viridinutans complex.

Case Summary: This report describes an indoor-only cat with a rare form of sino-orbital aspergillosis (SOA) with cervical lymphadenopathy causing local obstruction. Extensive work-up on initial presentation failed to identify the underlying etiology and the diagnosis was not determined until the disease progressed during a prolonged course of glucocorticoid therapy.
Relevance and Novel Information: SOA caused by Aspergillus viridinutans complex is increasingly recognized as a significant cause of mortality in cats in recent years, with most cases reported in Australia, Europe and Asia. Feline SOA carries a poor prognosis owing to its invasive nature and resistance to antifungal therapy. This case demonstrates the importance of clinical awareness of SOA as a differential for cats with chronic nasal signs and exophthalmos in the USA. Moreover, it demonstrates a rare form of presentation and potential difficulty in achieving a correct diagnosis.
Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
(© The Author(s) 2023.)