Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Young adult cat with twisted hair shafts and hair loss
By Maina, Elisa et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2013·Servizi Dermatologici Veterinari, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A case of pili torti in a young adult domestic short-haired cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 1-year-old male domestic short-haired cat was brought in because he had patches of hair loss on his head, ears, legs, tail, and chest, but he wasn't itchy or showing any signs of infection. After examining his hair under a microscope, the vet found a condition called pili torti, which means the hair shafts were twisted and flattened. There were no signs of skin infections or other issues, and the cat was otherwise healthy. This case is significant because it's the first known instance of pili torti in a healthy young cat.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pili torti is a congenital or acquired human disease characterized by flattening and twisting of the hair shaft by 180 degrees. A similar condition has been previously reported in a litter of kittens with generalized hair loss, associated with systemic signs and followed by death at a young age. ANIMAL: A 1-year-old castrated male domestic short-haired cat was presented for noninflammatory and nonpruritic symmetrical multifocal alopecia involving the head, pinnae, forelimbs, tail and chest. The cat was otherwise healthy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Microscopic examination of hair shafts revealed pili torti and a typical combination of anagen and telogen roots, occasionally spiral in shape, without evidence of mites or dermatophytes. Histopathological examination showed the same hair shaft abnormality, with normal epidermis, dermis, hair follicles and other adnexa. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed a hair shaft dysplasia characterized by pili torti, similar to that described in humans. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first case report of pili torti in a healthy young adult cat.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23384010/