The First Case of Feline Prototheca wickerhamii Infection in Japan

Abstract

A 3-year-old castrated male domestic short-haired cat attended carrying nodules on the left nasal wing and the left earflap. Prototheca cells were found from the excision biopsy of one of the nodules located on the left earflap. The patient cat was generally in good condition without skin problems. Prototheca wickerhamii were isolated from all of the 6 masses after surgically nucleated. The cat was recovered two months after intervention with no recurrence of skin nodules. This report deals with the first case of feline protothecosis in Japan.