Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Facial and mouth sores linked to feline herpesvirus in cats
By Hargis, A M & Ginn, P E·Published in The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice·1999·DermatoDiagnostics, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Feline herpesvirus 1-associated facial and nasal dermatitis and stomatitis in domestic cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of domestic cats with facial and nasal skin sores and mouth ulcers was found to have a condition linked to feline herpesvirus 1. This virus can reactivate due to stress or previous steroid treatments, leading to painful lesions that might be confused with allergies. To diagnose the issue, veterinarians can use a special test on tissue samples. Treatment options include surgery to remove the sores, antibiotics for any secondary infections, and oral alpha interferon to help manage the virus. Most cats showed improvement with these treatments.
People also search for: cat facial sores herpesvirus treatment · cat mouth ulcers herpes · why is my cat's nose sore
Abstract
Feline herpesvirus-associated dermatitis has rarely been reported. Recently we documented a unique ulcerative and often persistent facial dermatitis or stomatitis syndrome associated with feline herpesvirus 1. We believe this syndrome is relatively common, with the 10 cases in our series diagnosed between 1996 and 1997. The syndrome is associated with epithelial cell necrosis, eosinophilic inflammation, and intraepithelial herpesvirus inclusion bodies. The prevalence of eosinophilic inflammation and low number of inclusion bodies may lead to the misdiagnosis of allergic dermatitis or a lesion within the eosinophilic granuloma complex group of disorders. Feline herpesvirus 1 can be identified in lesional tissue by PCR methodology. Most of our cases developed under circumstances suggesting reactivation of latent herpesvirus infection, and previous glucocorticoid therapy or stress from overcrowding may have played a role in lesion development. Cats with ulcerative dermatitis, especially of the face and nose, and cats with stomatitis should be evaluated for the presence of feline herpesvirus. Treatment options include surgical excision, topical or systemic antibiotic therapy to treat secondary bacterial infection, and oral alpha interferon.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10562999/