Conidiophores and conidia of the fungus Sporothrix schenckii<unk>  is a chronic disease with slow progression and often subtle symptoms. It is difficult to diagnose, as many other diseases share similar symptoms and therefore must be ruled out. Patients with<unk>  will have antibody against the fungus S. schenckii, however, due to variability in sensitivity and specificity, it may not be a reliable diagnosis for this disease. The confirming diagnosis remains culturing the fungus from the skin, sputum, synovial fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid. Smears should be taken from the draining tracts and ulcers. Cats with<unk>  are unique in that the exudate from their lesions may contain numerous organisms. This makes cytological evaluation of exudate a valuable diagnostic tool in this species. Exudate is pyogranulomatous and phagocytic cells may be packed with yeast forms. These are variable in size, but many are cigar-shaped. Differential diagnosis Differential diagnosis includes: leishmaniasis, nocardiosis, mycobacterium marinum, cat-scratch disease, leprosy, syphilis, sarcoidosis and tuberculosis.
Sporotrichosis
Leishmaniasis
Dermatomycosis
Mycobacterium marinum
Botryomycosis
Cat-scratch disease
Otomycosis
Leprosy