Archive Case #155: Feline Cryptococcosis

Clinical Clues

1. Weeks of sneezing culminate in examination of a cat with a firm swelling across the nasal bridge.
2. Appetite has steadily declined as the breathing has become noisier.
3. There is a mucopurulent nasal discharge and the face appears subtly distorted.
4. On examination, the nasal planum is swollen and the submandibular lymph nodes are mildly enlarged.
5. Cytology from the lesion identifies encapsulated yeast organisms.
6. This fungal disease commonly causes nasal deformity and chronic upper respiratory signs in cats.

Diagnosis

Feline Cryptococcosis

This case is most consistent with Feline Cryptococcosis because the cat has chronic nasal disease with facial swelling and cytology showing encapsulated yeast. The most important clues are the nasal bridge distortion and fungal organism morphology, which make a simple bacterial rhinitis less likely.

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.