Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Figurate erythema skin lesions in 11 Eastern European sphynx cats
By Mendoza-Kuznetsova, Ekaterina et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2024·Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Figurate erythema in 11 Eastern European sphynx cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Eleven young Sphynx cats were brought in for red, circular skin lesions that lasted from about 1 to 56 months. The cats showed mild itching but were otherwise healthy, and tests ruled out fungal infections. Despite trying different diets and medications, the skin condition didn’t fully go away; however, many cats experienced some improvement on their own over time. This case highlights a new skin issue seen in Sphynx cats that hasn't been reported before.
People also search for: Sphynx cat skin problems · cat red skin lesions treatment · why is my cat itching · Sphynx cat dermatology issues
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In humans, figurate erythema (FE) represents a heterogenous group of dermatoses with circular or serpiginous erythematous skin lesions; FE has not been reported in cats. OBJECTIVES: To report clinical and histological characteristics and outcomes of FE in sphynx cats from Baltic sea-bordering countries. ANIMALS: Eleven client-owned sphynx cats with FE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited cases meeting the following criteria: (i) a sphynx breed, (ii) FE with or without scaling, (iii) a chronic, waxing-and-waning course lasting longer than a month and (iv) an absence of other skin diseases. RESULTS: Of 11 cats, there were seven Donskoys, one Peterbald, one Ukrainian Levkoy and two presumed Canadian sphynxes; all except one were males, and the age of onset was <12 months in eight cats. Skin lesions lasted between 1.2 and 56 months, and they consisted of erythematous plaques with a linear-to-serpiginous, annular, gyrate or iris configuration predominating on the trunk and extremities. Scaling was often seen trailing the edge of the centrifugally expanding erythema. All cats were otherwise asymptomatic or mildly pruritic. Dermatophytosis was ruled out by special stains and/or fungal cultures in eight cats. Microscopic lesions revealed focal, mild-to-moderate epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis, minimal-to-mild dysplasia and subepidermal collagen smudging. Special stains were negative for dermatophytes. The clinical remission of FE was not achieved with diet changes or medical interventions; yet, a spontaneous, transient, partial or complete improvement occurred in most cats. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first report of FE in sphynx cats from Eastern Europe.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38284278/