Prospective Uncontrolled Interventional Study of Itraconazole and β-Glucans (Euglena gracilis) to Assess Safeness and Clinical Effectiveness in Cats with Cutaneous and Mucosal Sporotrichosis

Brazil is an endemic region for both human and feline sporotrichosis, with <i>Sporothrix brasiliensis</i> being the main etiological agent. Currently, few effective antifungal agents are available for treating this mycosis in cats, and therapeutic studies remain limited. Itraconazole (ITZ) is the first-line drug; however, its effectiveness is variable. To evaluate the use of ITZ combined with β-glucans (<i>Euglena gracilis</i>) in feline sporotrichosis, a prospective, uncontrolled interventional study was conducted in 29 cats. Clinical cure was achieved in 21 animals (72.4%) with a median treatment duration of 10 weeks. Most of these cats presented with nasal region lesions, nasal mucosa involvement, and respiratory signs, which are commonly associated with poor therapeutic outcomes. Treatment failure occurred in 5 animals (17.2%), and 3 (10.3%) were lost to follow-up. No deaths were recorded during the study. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were observed in 2 cats (6.9%). These findings suggest that β-glucans may be a complementary strategy in the treatment of feline sporotrichosis, particularly in cases involving nasal lesions and respiratory signs, and may also contribute to the prevention of ADRs associated with conventional therapy.