The TND-RTM protocol for controlling sporotrichosis in a free-roaming cat colony in southern Brazil

IF 2.1 3区农林科学 Q1 VETERINARY SCIENCES

Research in veterinary science Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-21 DOI:10.1016/j.rvsc.2026.106108

Brunna Gabriela Gonçalves de Oliveira Ferreira , Vitor Gonçalves Teixeira , Carla Forte Maiolino Molento , Danielle Ferreira de Magalhães Soares , Renato Silva de Souza , Rita de Cassia Maria Garcia

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

To describe the outcomes of the Trap, Neuter, Diagnosis, Return, Treatment, and Monitoring (TND-RTM) protocol applied to a free-roaming cat colony in a sporotrichosis-endemic area in southern Brazil.

Methods

Cats were captured and neutered, clinically assessed for sporotrichosis, and managed according to predefined colony-level therapeutic criteria, whereby the colony was classified as sporotrichosis-positive when at least one individual was affected. All cats within a positive colony were included in antifungal management, including isolation of clinically affected cats and preventive treatment of exposed animals, with continuous visual monitoring.

Results

At baseline, 52.4% of cats (11/21) presented clinical lesions compatible with sporotrichosis. Nineteen cats were captured and clinically evaluated, while two were monitored through visual assessment. Due to demographic changes during follow-up, 11.1% of cats remaining in the colony at 12 months (2/18) still exhibited active lesions. By the end of the 18-month follow-up period, no cats in the colony presented active sporotrichosis lesions (0/18).

Conclusions

The application of the TND-RTM protocol in a single free-roaming cat colony was associated with the resolution of clinical sporotrichosis cases and with improvements in animal welfare at the colony level. This descriptive case study highlights both the potential and the operational challenges of a colony-based approach integrating population management with infectious disease control in endemic urban settings.

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在巴西南部一个自由漫游的猫群中控制孢子虫病的TND-RTM方案。

目的：描述捕获、绝育、诊断、返回、治疗和监测（TND-RTM）方案应用于巴西南部孢子虫流行地区的自由漫游猫群的结果。方法：捕获和绝育猫，临床评估孢子虫病，并根据预先确定的菌落水平治疗标准进行管理，当至少有一只个体受到影响时，该菌落被归类为孢子虫阳性。所有阳性菌落内的猫都被纳入抗真菌管理，包括隔离临床感染猫和对暴露动物进行预防性治疗，并进行持续的目视监测。结果：基线时，52.4%的猫（11/21）出现与孢子虫病相符的临床病变。捕获了19只猫并进行了临床评估，同时通过视觉评估对两只猫进行了监测。由于随访期间人口统计学的变化，11.1%的猫在12个月时（2/18）仍然表现出活动性病变。在18个月的随访期结束时，该群体中没有猫出现活动性孢子菌病病变（0/18）。结论：在单个自由漫游的猫群体中应用TND-RTM方案与临床孢子虫病病例的解决以及群体水平上动物福利的改善有关。这一描述性案例研究突出了在城市流行环境中将人口管理与传染病控制结合起来的以群体为基础的方法的潜力和业务挑战。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Research in veterinary science 农林科学-兽医学

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

4.20%

发文量

312

审稿时长

75 days

期刊介绍： Research in Veterinary Science is an International multi-disciplinary journal publishing original articles, reviews and short communications of a high scientific and ethical standard in all aspects of veterinary and biomedical research. The primary aim of the journal is to inform veterinary and biomedical scientists of significant advances in veterinary and related research through prompt publication and dissemination. Secondly, the journal aims to provide a general multi-disciplinary forum for discussion and debate of news and issues concerning veterinary science. Thirdly, to promote the dissemination of knowledge to a broader range of professions, globally. High quality papers on all species of animals are considered, particularly those considered to be of high scientific importance and originality, and with interdisciplinary interest. The journal encourages papers providing results that have clear implications for understanding disease pathogenesis and for the development of control measures or treatments, as well as those dealing with a comparative biomedical approach, which represents a substantial improvement to animal and human health. Studies without a robust scientific hypothesis or that are preliminary, or of weak originality, as well as negative results, are not appropriate for the journal. Furthermore, observational approaches, case studies or field reports lacking an advancement in general knowledge do not fall within the scope of the journal.