Isolated Lepromatous Conjunctivo-corneal granuloma in a cat from Italy

Objective: to describe a case of a Isolated Lepromatous Conjunctivo-corneal granuloma in a cat living in Southern Italy. Methods: A two-year-old female black European shorthair cat, living in a suburban environment, with an outdoor lifestyle, was presented for evaluation of a 2 weeks’ duration nodular pinkish vascularized mass arising in the dorsal bulbar conjunctiva at the temporal cantus of left eye and invading the lateral surface of sclera and cornea. The cat didn’t show any other abnormality on both eyes by slit-lamp biomicroscopic and indirect ophtalmoscopic examination. Serologically feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus were excluded, and IgG title for toxoplasmosis was 1:640. Cytobrush samples were obtained and a biopsy of the mass was performed. Results: Neuthophils, lymphocytes and acid-fast bacilli packed in the cytoplasm of foamy macrophages and giant cells were seen on cytological examination. The histological examination confirmed the presence of a granulomatous lesion with acid-fast bacilli within macrophages. Bacteriological culture of the material from the lesion and polymerase chain reaction technique were negative for Mycobacterium spp.. A diagnosis of feline leprosy was supposed. The owners refused any treatment, and one year later the lesion was still present. Conclusions: Veterinary ophthalmologists should be aware of conjunctivo-corneal leproma as an unusual symptom of leprosy.