Summary
The seventh case of cryptococcosis in a cat is described. The animal involved was a five-year-old Maltese short hair that had lived in Connecticut all of its life. An investigation was carried out to discover the point source of this feline infection. This search was unsuccessful but it did result in the isolation ofH. capsulatum for the first time from Connecticut soil.
In addition, the preliminary findings of a study to evaluate the use of the fluorescent antibody technique for the rapid detection ofH. capsulatum in soil are reported. Round to oval forms measuring 1.5 to 3.5 microns in diameter were demonstrated in smears of the positive Connecticut soil that had been stained with fluorescein labeled anti-H. capsulatum globulins. The morphology of these elements was similar to that of the microconidia ofH. capsulatum. Through the use of this immune conjugate five additional positive soil samples from other areas were also shown to contain these forms. None of these six soils showed stained elements when treated with normal conjugates. The implications of these findings are discussed.
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Kaplan, W., Ajello, L., Di Bitetto, D.B. et al. The discovery ofHistoplasma capsulatum in Connecticut soil incidental to the investigation of a case of feline cryptococcosis. Mycopathologia et Mycologia Applicata 14, 1–8 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02051431
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02051431