Eric FLORANT
Ces de Dermatologie – Ex chargé de consultation de dermatologie ENVA
Clinique Vétérinaire Les Sablons
Plaisir 78
Reason for the consultation:
Lin Fa, a 2 year-old female domestic shorthair was referred to us with a 4 month history of recurrent facial pruritus (August 2005).
General background:
Lin Fa was born in a garden and had been with her owner from the age of 3 months; since then, she had been living in a flat with one other asymptomatic cat. She had an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) when first acquired, but had not relapsed since. Prior to the onset of her skin condition, she was fed various brands of supermarket dry and wet food. She got on well with the other cat, although the owner reported that she had always been very nervous and anxious.
History:
The cat’s first episode of skin disease began 4 months ago, followed by a second onset 2 months later. The lesions remained confined to the head (skin cranial to the ears, periocular and perilabial areas). A positive response to corticosteroid treatment was noted. The second episode of skin disease occurred despite good owner compliance with an exclusion diet using hypoallergenic Royal Canin food. As for the current episode, it had started approximately two weeks ago. Since then, the cat was fed dry Hill’s Feline Z/D and her skin seemed to have improved slightly by the time we saw her. General examination: The cat had been lethargic for the last few days and her appetite was reduced. Purulent rhinitis, moderate conjunctivitis and pyrexia (40.1°C) were noted. The owner stated that the rhinitis had only started a few days earlier.
Dermatological examination:
The cat presented with relatively symmetrical lesions, affecting the head only. The lesions were localised to the skin cranial to the ears, the proximal aspect of the inner pinnae (the vertical canals were also inflamed), and the periocular and perilabial areas. Erythema, crusts, scaling and, in some areas, hyperpigmentation were observed. Flea combing was negative.
Differential diagnosis: The differential diagnosis of feline facial pruritus is challenging. Based on the history and clinical signs, the following possibilities could be considered:
| Aetiology | Arguments for | Arguments against | Further investigations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allergic skin disease | Symmetrical facial distribution, type of lesions, positive response to corticosteroids | Exclusion diet properly carried out. No reliable further investigations! | |
| Cutaneous manifestations of herpesvirus infection | Associated URTI Facial distribution |
Other episodes without URTI | Biopsy for quantitative PCR and histology |
| Skin disease of behavioural origin | Signs of anxiety | Anxiety had always been present, no worsening with the skin disease, lesion distribution, lesions not only due to self-trauma. | Behavioural consultation |
| Dermatophytosis Primary or secondary |
Cases of pruritic dermatophytosis are rare. Possible secondary dermatophytosis superimposed on initial skin disease. | Complete resolution of previous episodes | Wood’s lamp Fungal culture |
Immediate further investigations:
- Impression smears: neutrophils, phagocytised and extracellular cocci. A few Malassezia yeasts were found.
- Negative skin scrapings
- Negative Wood’s lamp examination
- Sampling for fungal culture: results later returned as negative
Diagnosis at this stage:
A specific diagnosis could not be established, other than the presence of a secondary superficial pyoderma.
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pruritis in cats, itchy cat, fungal infections, itchy cats, food allergies