ACURÁCIA DO EXAME CITOPATOLÓGICO NO DIAGNÓSTICO DA ESPOROTRICOSE FELINA.

Sporotrichosis is caused by Sporothrix schenckii. The definitive diagnosis is obtained from the isolation in culture. However, the cytopathologic examination is often used in the diagnostic of feline cases without the parameters of accuracy established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the cytopathological examination in the diagnosis of feline sporotrichosis. We conducted a masked sectional diagnostic study which included 244 cats. The sensitivity of the test was 84.9% and the specificity 57.9%. Predictive values (+/-), likelihood ratios (+/-) and accuracy were respectively: 86.0%, 24.4%, 2.02, 0.26 and 82.8%. We conclude that the cytopathological examination is a sensitive, rapid and practical method to be used in feline sporotrichosis diagnosis epidemic outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]