Feline seasonal dermatitis

Thirteen cats from the Nelson district were presented for veterinary examination with a distinctive dermatitis characterised clinically by multiple focal nasal (bridge and planum) erosions and crusting. The syndrome occurred from mid-December to mid-March. A survey of the owners of the pets (six respondents) establish that four cats had been affected in previous years and five had multiple episodes during the summer. Pruritus was present in four and skin depigmentation was common following resolution of the acute lesions. Two cats also had crusting pinnal dermatitis.     

Feline miliary eczema: megestrol acetate does not suppress immune responses

Megestrol acetate was found to have no influence on immunological skin and corneal reactivity nor on antibody responses in guinea pigs. Its curative effect in feline miliary eczema is probably not, therefore, the result of interference with the immune response.     

Feline herpes dermatitis treated with interferon omega

This case report describes the diagnosis, demonstration and treatment of feline herpes virus-induced facial dermatitis in a cat. The cat was successfully treated with interferon omega (IFN-omega).     

Eosinophilic papulocrustous dermatitis (miliary dermatitis) and eosinophilic inflammatory bowel disease in two cats

Two cats with chronic eosinophilic skin disease were investigated. The clinical investigation of the skin disease in one cat was limited and inflammatory bowel disease was diagnosed post mortem. A history of weight loss and a palpably thickened bowel in the second cat suggested concurrent gastrointestinal disease. Diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease was confirmed on biopsy. Treatment with azathioprine and methylprednisolone acetate resolved the signs of gastrointestinal disease, the pruritus and 95% of the skin lesions. The concurrence of eosinophilic papulocrustous dermatitis and eosinophilic bowel disease raises the possibility of their being linked bv a common aetiology or pathophysiology.     

Correlation of histologic and immunologic findings in cats with miliary dermatitis

Eighteen cats with miliary dermatitis were evaluated, using skin testing and histology. Sixteen cats had allergic skin disease (14 cats had positive skin-test reactions to flea antigen [two of which were also atopic], one was atopic only, and one was allergic to beef). In the two remaining cats, the cause of miliary dermatitis was not identified. Histologically, 17 of the cats had superficial eosinophilic dermatitis and epidermal spongiosis, crusting, and ulceration, which were compatible with an allergic cause. Four of these cats had concurrent eosinophilic plaques, which histologically resembled miliary lesions. This overlap of plaques with miliary lesions indicated that when plaques and miliary dermatitis are found concurrently, both lesions may be caused by the same allergens.     

Management of feline miliary dermatitis by supplementing the diet with essential fatty acids

Of eight cats with miliary dermatitis, six showed a good response to treatment with a dietary supplement of essential fatty acids. The analysis of serum fatty acids revealed significant abnormalities in cats with miliary dermatitis compared with normal cats.     

Feline herpesvirus 1-associated facial and nasal dermatitis and stomatitis in domestic cats.

Feline herpesvirus-associated dermatitis has rarely been reported. Recently we documented a unique ulcerative and often persistent facial dermatitis or stomatitis syndrome associated with feline herpesvirus 1. We believe this syndrome is relatively common, with the 10 cases in our series diagnosed between 1996 and 1997. The syndrome is associated with epithelial cell necrosis, eosinophilic inflammation, and intraepithelial herpesvirus inclusion bodies. The prevalence of eosinophilic inflammation and low number of inclusion bodies may lead to the misdiagnosis of allergic dermatitis or a lesion within the eosinophilic granuloma complex group of disorders. Feline herpesvirus 1 can be identified in lesional tissue by PCR methodology. Most of our cases developed under circumstances suggesting reactivation of latent herpesvirus infection, and previous glucocorticoid therapy or stress from overcrowding may have played a role in lesion development. Cats with ulcerative dermatitis, especially of the face and nose, and cats with stomatitis should be evaluated for the presence of feline herpesvirus. Treatment options include surgical excision, topical or systemic antibiotic therapy to treat secondary bacterial infection, and oral alpha interferon.     

Feline perforating dermatitis resembling human reactive perforating collagenosis: clinicopathological findings and outcome in four cases

The clinicopathological findings of perforating dermatitis in two young and two adult cats are described. In all cases, the lesions were characterized by single or multiple papules and plaques, 0.5–3.0 cm in diameter, each containing a central, firm, exophytic, cone-shaped, yellow-orange keratotic plug, tightly adherent to the underlying skin. Removal of the protruding material was associated with bleeding and left the ulcerated surface exposed. In one case, the lesions showed a linear configuration and identical lesions occurred on the suture sites following biopsy. Histopathologically, the diagnosis was straightforward because of the presence of vertically orientated collagen bundles extruded from ulcerated, concave-shaped invaginations of the skin. In two cases, vitamin C administration failed to resolve the disease. In two cases, methyl-prednisolone acetate was used to manage relapsing episodes and vitamin C helped to reduce glucocorticoid requirements. In one case, treatment with methyl-prednisolone acetate only appeared to be curative. The fourth case was lost to follow-up immediately after the diagnosis.     

Feline babesiosis

Objective – To review and summarize current information regarding the etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of feline babesiosis, especially with regard to features distinct from canine babesiosis.
Etiology – Babesiosis is caused by hemoprotozoa of the genus Babesia . Numerous species of Babesia exist worldwide. The babesial organism spends the majority of its life cycle within the erythrocyte of the definitive host, resulting in hemolysis, with or without systemic complications.
Diagnosis – Definitive diagnosis depends on direct visualization of the organism on blood smear or a positive polymerase chain reaction. Positive serologic tests indicate only exposure, with or without active infection.
Therapy – Antiprotozoal drugs and supportive care are the mainstays of therapy. Primaquine phosphate is considered the treatment of choice in cats.
Prognosis – Prognosis depends on the severity of disease, which in turn depends on both organism and host factors. Mortality rates of 15–20% are reported.