Is terbinafine an effective treatment for feline sporotrichosis?

Abstract Background Terbinafine has been successfully used in the treatment of human sporotrichosis; however, its effectiveness in the treatment of feline sporotrichosis is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the use of terbinafine in the treatment of feline sporotrichosis. Methods A cohort study was conducted in cats with sporotrichosis to assess the effectiveness and safety of terbinafine (30‒60 mg/kg/day). Clinical examination and analysis of laboratory parameters were performed monthly until clinical signs resolved or terbinafine treatment was discontinued. Results Of the 54 cats with sporotrichosis included in the study, 19 were lost during follow‐up and five were withdrawn from the study due to switching to treatment with another prescription drug. Of the remaining 30 cats, 10 achieved clinical cure, with a median treatment time of 18.5 weeks. Treatment failed in 18 cases, and two cats died. Twenty‐two cats had adverse reactions to terbinafine treatment, and 10 cats showed elevation of serum transaminases. Limitation Loss during follow‐up was high, which makes it difficult to draw accurate conclusions regarding clinical outcomes. Conclusion The low rate of clinical cure observed suggests that terbinafine does not represent an effective treatment option for cases of feline sporotrichosis.