Gastrointestinal granuloma due to Candida albicans in an immunocompetent cat

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

Other possible, but less likely explanations for candidiasis in this case include a transient defective local immunity associated with a viral infection (e.g. Coronavirus, Rotavirus) and/or intestinal dysbiosis. Both pathogenic factors and an impaired intestinal mucosal barrier are required for invasive C. albicans infection. Virulence factors of C. albicans include the ability to adhere to epithelial cells and to form biofilms. The ability to form hyphae is also a virulence factor and is associated with active infection, since hyphal forms can invade epithelial cells and cause tissue damage [10] . In the case here, hyphae were visualised on cytological preparations of the intestinal lesion. This finding, in combination with culture and ITS-sequencing results is evidence of an active infection of C. albicans. No bacterial involvement was identified.