Experience implementing a sporotrichosis surveillance and control program in free-roaming cats on a university campus

Abstract

Sporotrichosis is an emerging zoonosis with growing impact in Brazil’s urban areas, aggravated by the absence of effective public health policies and standardized surveillance protocols, especially for free-roaming cats. This study evaluated the implementation of a surveillance and control protocol for sporotrichosis in an urban area with high densities of community cats and frequent abandonment, including animals testing positive for the disease. A retrospective, descriptive, observational study was conducted at the Pampulha Campus, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, from January 2020 to February 2025. The protocol comprised systematic monitoring, laboratory and clinical diagnostics, treatment, epidemiological surveillance, and mandatory reporting. Animals were categorized as community or abandoned. Of the 23 suspected cats included in the analysis, 52.2% were confirmed, with 50.0% of positives originating from abandoned animals. One suspected dog was also recorded in the surveillance dataset during the same period but was not included in the feline analyses. Statistical associations were found between animal origin, reproductive status, treatment location, treatment duration, and outcomes. Abandoned cats, mainly unneutered males with multiple lesions, required approximately twice the treatment time of community cats and posed greater logistical and financial challenges. In contrast, neutered community cats with fixed feeding points and committed caregivers presented shorter treatment durations and feasible in situ therapy. As a complementary strategy, Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) after clinical recovery was essential to reduce intra-colony transmission. The findings highlight that effective control of feline sporotrichosis depends on continuous and integrated actions aligned with the One Health approach. Individualized treatment, combined with population management and community involvement, offers an ethical and sustainable alternative to euthanasia for free-roaming cats.