Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with itchy skin caused by springtail infestation
By Beccati, Massimo et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2012·Clinica Veterinaria Adda, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A case of an apparent infestation by Proisotoma spp. springtails (Collembola: Isotomidae) in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat was brought in with itchy skin and flaky patches, which were found to be caused by an infestation of tiny springtails, a type of arthropod. Skin scrapings revealed a large number of these organisms, and the cat showed improvement after treatment, which also helped the owner who developed a similar skin rash. The treatment involved cleaning the cat and its belongings, leading to the disappearance of the springtails and the cat's skin issues.
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Abstract
This case report is presumed to be the first case of infestation of a cat by springtails which are small arthropods closely related to insects. The organisms, found by skin scrapings, were identified as Proisotoma spp. (Collembola: Isotomidae). The cat presented with dermatological lesions (itchy, furfuraceous dermatitis), and we speculate that they were due to this infestation. The pathogenic role of the Collembola was hypothesized because of the large number of organisms, the presence of eggs indicating an active reproduction cycle, the lack of other pathogens (fleas, mites or lice) and the clinical recovery accompanied by the disappearance of Collembola following treatment. The owner seemed to be affected by the infestation, because a few days after having purchased the cat, she developed a pruriginous papular dermatitis on the neck and the arms, which disappeared shortly after treatment of the kitten and a careful washing of all of its toys and other accoutrements.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22049948/