What infections, like aspergillosis, cause optic neuritis in cats?

Hello. Unfortunately, yes, cryptococcosis can cause this condition in cats, along with blastomycosis & histoplasmosis. Other infections including viruses & protozoal etiologies can cause this as well as trauma & neoplasia. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Cats are pretty resistant to aspergillosis so you probably don’t have to worry. Nasal aspergillosis causes nasal discharge, enlarged lymph nodes and lethargy/decreased appetite. Systemic aspergillosis really only occurs in immunocompromised cats so if your cats are healthy there is minimal concern. Systemic/disseminated aspergillosis causes decreased appetite, lethargy, GI signs, and fever. Cats are typically very sick with either form. Aspergillosis is everywhere in the environment so 3 months of potential exposure wouldn’t be too concerning - they may be exposed again at some point. Testing is difficult for the same reason and ultimately a CT scan, scoping and biopsy is usually needed for diagnosis. I would simply watch for thick nasal discharge and contact your vet if noted.

Aspergillosis is a rare cause of an upper respiratory infection and would mean that your cat has a disease causing him to have a low immune system. For this reason and the fact that itraconazole can have negative effects on the liver, I would not recommend treating for aspergillosis unless there was a laboratory diagnosis. Even then, we cannot (legally and ethically) prescribe medication for a case that we have not physically seen. This is more likely due to an upper respiratory infection caused by a virus or bacteria. These are often due to a virus that is usually self-limiting (will go away on its own - much like a cold with people). These can become worse and complicated with bacterial infections, so if Pasha is having issues with congestion, or starts to develop yellow/green nose or eye discharge, then it will be best to take him to a vet for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. For now, make sure he is comfortable and free of any stressful situations. These infections often happen in times of stress, so if there was a potential new stressor, then try your best to remove it. If he is very congested, then you can do a steam bath at home. Below is a link to an article that explains this and has helpful info about cat upper respiratory disease. http://www.wikihow.com/Help-Your-Cat-Breathe-Easier I hope that helps and Pasha gets better soon.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would agree with your veterinarian. Aspergillosis will usually cause a marked nasal discharge and in most cases also nose bleeds and it does not sound like those are present. Hopefully this resolves and Aster does well which is likely. Good luck and have a good day!

Hi and thanks for your request. There are many causes of chorioretinitis and even though FIV is quite common, generally speaking parasites, fungal infections, bacterial infection (e.g., Bartonella), other viral infections (e.g., feline leukemia, feline infectious peritonitis), autoimmune disease, cancer, toxicity (e.g., antifreeze poisoning, or adverse reaction to medications) are all possible. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Many times these infections are viral in nature and some can take several weeks before they finally go away. The big things would be to make sure Oreo eats a good diet like Royal Canin. This way you know you are getting good nutrition to support a healthy body. There's a supplement for cats called Lysine which can also help. Lastly, make sure Oreo is negative for immune suppressing viruses such as Felv and FIV. I hope this helps.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If you are having eye issues you should see a human physician. Feline Herpes is not contagious to people as people herpes is not contagious to cats. As long as you wash your hands and do not touch your eye after handling Abba you shouldn't contract a bacterial infection from her. If your Vet cultured a specific bacterial from Abba you should ask them about the zoonotic potential of that bacteria. I hope this helps and I wish you both the best!