Feline seasonal dermatitis (abstract)

Authors: Johnstone AC
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 40, Issue 1, pp 36, Mar 1992
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cat, Companion animal
Subject Terms: Inflammation, Integument/skin/wool/hair/fur/feather, Disease/defect, Diagnostic procedures, Environment, Parasites - external, Pest/pesticides, Pathology, Seasonality/photoperiod
Article class: Abstract

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Abstract: 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. Pruritis was present in four and skin depigmentation was common following resolution of the acute lesions. Two cats also had crusting pinnal dermatitis.
Histologically the lesions were an intense focal perivascular and (often) perifollicular/follicular eosinophilic dermatitis with oedema and clefting of overlying epithelium. Lesions progressed to necrosis with ulceration and sloughing of the core of necrotic and inflamed tissue and, eventually, secondary intention healing. Eosinophilic granuloma was present in several cats.
The history, clinical signs and pathological features of this syndrome are suggestive of allergy to insect bites and closely resemble that described recently in Queensland in association with mosquito bites(1).
(1) Mason KV. Evans AG. Mosquito bite-caused eosinophilic dermatitis in cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 198. 2086-88, 1990.

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