Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline pemphigus foliaceus: detecting autoantibodies in cats
By Levy, Britt J et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2020·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Detection of circulating anti-keratinocyte autoantibodies in feline pemphigus foliaceus.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 30 cats with pemphigus foliaceus, a skin condition that causes sores and lesions, were tested for specific antibodies in their blood. Researchers found that 77% of these cats had circulating antibodies that could be linked to their skin issues, while only a small number of healthy and allergic cats showed similar results. The tests indicated that the antibodies were present in both the skin of the footpads and the mouth, suggesting that the cause of this condition in cats might be different from that in dogs. Understanding these antibodies could help veterinarians better diagnose and treat this skin disease in cats.
People also search for: cat skin problems pemphigus foliaceus · cat autoimmune disease symptoms · treatment for cat skin sores
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Circulating anti-keratinocyte immunoglobulin (Ig)G targeting desmosomal proteins have been identified in people and dogs with pemphigus foliaceus (PF). By contrast, detection attempts in PF-affected cats have been largely unsuccessful. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To detect circulating anti-keratinocyte autoantibodies in PF-affected cats and determine their titres and tissue-staining patterns. ANIMALS: Thirty PF-affected cats were compared to 11 specific-pathogen free, 15 healthy and 31 allergic cats. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Sera were tested by indirect immunofluorescence on canine footpad and buccal mucosal substrates. RESULTS: Circulating, anti-keratinocyte IgG with a suprabasilar, web-like (intercellular) pattern were detected in the majority of PF-affected cats (23 of 30, 77%), some allergic cats (six of 31, 19%) and one healthy cat (7%). Both footpad epidermis and buccal mucosa were positive in the majority of seropositive PF-affected cats (21 of 23, 91%), and in only one of six (17%) seropositive allergic cats. Staining was limited to the footpad in the remaining seropositive PF-affected and allergic cats and one seropositive healthy cat. Reciprocal IgG titres were significantly higher in PF-affected cats compared to controls (Dunn's post-test, P < 0.0001). Anti-keratinocyte IgM, IgA or IgE were not detected in any sera. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: These results confirm the presence of circulating anti-keratinocyte IgG in a majority of PF-affected cats and in a small percentage of healthy and allergic cats. Although the molecular target and pathogenic nature of the antibodies remains unknown, the detection of positive immunostaining on buccal mucosal tissue, in addition to the footpad, suggests that the major target antigen of feline PF differs from that reported in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32372490/