Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Vitiligo causing white patches on nose and paws of Siamese cat
By López, Rocío et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·1994·Department of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A Clinical, Pathological and I mmunopathological Study of Vitiligo in a Siamese Cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A spayed female Siamese cat had been experiencing progressive loss of color in her skin and fur for three and a half years, affecting her nose, ears, and footpads. This condition, known as vitiligo, was confirmed through skin tests that showed a lack of pigment-producing cells. Interestingly, the cat showed some signs of improvement with partial repigmentation in her ears. While vitiligo is rare in cats, this case highlights its potential for some recovery.
People also search for: Siamese cat skin color loss · cat vitiligo treatment · why is my cat losing fur color
Abstract
Abstract- The clinical, histopathological and ultrastructural features of a spayed female Siamese cat with a three-and-a-half year history of progressive cutaneous depigmentation are described. Clinically the condition was characterised by progressive leukoderma of the nose, pinna and footpad skin, and multifocal leukotrichia involving the whole body. Histopathological and ultrastructural studies confirmed the absence of melanocytes and melanin in the epidermis and hair follicles of affected areas. Immunohistochemical study revealed areas with absence of immune response to anti-vimentin antiserum, which was interpreted as a loss of dendritic cells, especially melanocytes. Diagnosis of vitiligo was based on the clinical signs and pathological features. This study adds a new case of this uncommon condition in the cat, and documents some previously non-reported features of feline vitiligo, such as the chronic progressive and generalised nature of the skin lesions, and its reversible character with partial lentiginous repigmentation on the pinna.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34645034/