Gastrointestinal granuloma due to Candida albicans in an immunocompetent cat

Duchaussoy, Anne-Claire; Rose, Annie; Talbot, Jessica J.; Barrs, Vanessa R.

The ability of Candida to adhere to vaginal, gastrointestinal and oral epithelial cells is well documented [2] . However, to become pathogenic, interruption of normal defence mechanisms is necessary. In cats, this can occur as a result of naturally occurring disease including diabetes mellitus, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) infection, or from iatrogenic factors, especially therapeutic modalities such as antibiotic administration, surgery and indwelling urinary catheters [1] . Most reported cases of candidiasis in companion animals have involved the urinary tract of immunocompromised patients [3, 4] . Peritonitis and visceral organ invasion has also been reported in dogs [1] . Here we report the first case of a gastrointestinal granuloma due to Candida albicans in a young immunocompetent cat.