Serological Evidence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Patients with Morphea from West-Central Poland: An Original Paper and Review of Literature.

Morphea (localized scleroderma) is an inflammatory connective tissue disease. Borrelia burgdorferi, as a causative factor, has been discussed controversially. The aim of this original study was to evaluate the frequency of IgM and IgG classes of anti-Borrelia antibodies in groups of morphea and psoriasis patients using the traditional ELISA method. Blood samples of 82 patients with morphea and 112 patients with psoriasis vulgaris were examined for the presence of IgM and IgG classes of anti-Borrelia antibodies (ELISA). IgM and IgG classes of anti-Borrelia antibodies were detected in 4% of blood samples taken from morphea patients, while 4.5% of blood samples from patients with psoriasis vulgaris. There is one major limitation in this study that could be addressed in future research. First, the study focused on the determination of IgM and IgG classes of anti-Borrelia antibodies as a risk factor for morphea, but other infectious agents also require further testing, such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and other viral or bacterial infections. The results of this study showed no significant relationship between Borrelia infection and morphea. Detection of IgM and IgG classes of anti-Borrelia antibodies is not recommended for routine diagnostics of patients with morphea at this time.

First confirmed case of bovine besnoitiosis in Rwanda.

An-eighteen months (one and half years) old heifer was presented with a progressive loss of weight leading to cachexia and was attended to by a team of doctors from the ambulatory clinic of the School of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda. Clinical examination revealed scleroderma of both sides of the neck and pinpoint cysts in the sclera and conjunctiva as well as corneal opacity of the left eye. Histological examination of skin biopsy showed a mononuclear dermatitis with several cysts of 100-300 µm filled up with bradyzoites in the subcutis and dermis. These lesions are consistent with bovine besnoitiosis, a disease caused by Besnoitia besnoiti in cattle. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first confirmed case of bovine besnoitiosis in Rwanda.

Collagen-enriched serpiginous skin lesion in a cat resembling the linear form of localized scleroderma in humans.

Localized scleroderma (LS) is a sclerotic skin disorder rarely reported in the veterinary literature. We herein report the first case of a linear LS-like skin lesion in a cat. A 1-year-old castrated male Himalayan cat was presented with a 1-month history of an alopecic, indurated, serpiginous, branched skin lesion on the dorsal cervical to scapular area. The cat had no history of trauma, although a topical spot-on endectocide had been applied near the lesion. Histopathological examination revealed a focal area of hyperplastic dermal collagen with the absence of pilosebaceous units. The cutaneous lesion remained unchanged during a 2-year follow-up period. Clinical and histopathological similarities of this skin lesion with those of the linear form of LS in humans were considered.

Morphea-like lesion following topical endectocide application in a cat.

BACKGROUND: Scleroderma is a rare chronic disease of connective tissues that may affect the skin in humans. Although still unclear, its aetiology may be related to drug reactions. To date, scleroderma has been reported in only a few dogs and one cat. CASE REPORT: Localized (morphea-like) scleroderma was diagnosed in a 3-year-old intact male Persian cat that developed a nonpruritic, well-demarcated alopecic plaque a few days after topical application of a 'spot-on' solution containing praziquantel and emodepside. The lesion occurred at the site of application at the dorsal cervical region, and was characterized histologically by fibrosing dermatitis. There was no response to systemic treatment with pentoxifylline. Following topical therapy with minoxidil 5% for 30 days, hair regrowth occurred, and the lesion had completely disappeared after 60 days. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The relationship between the alopecic plaque and the topical application of the spot-on solution cannot be proved; however, according to the Naranjo scale, which estimates the probability of adverse drug reactions, this case could be classified as a 'possible' reaction to one of the components of the product. Sclerodermoid reactions have not been described as a cutaneous drug eruption in veterinary medicine, so this case may possibly represent the first such idiosyncratic reaction to one of the applied substances. Furthermore, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the second report of a morphea-like lesion in a cat.

Morphea-like lesion in a cat.

Scleroderma is a rare chronic disease of connective tissues, involving the skin and/or internal organs in humans, and rarely described in the dog. A case is reported of localised scleroderma in a cat which presented with two well delineated alopecic, sclerotic, raised and shiny lesions localised on the trunk. Diagnosis was made by histopathological examination of skin biopsies which showed the replacement of all dermal components by dense thick collagen bundles. No therapy was instituted and a spontaneous recovery occurred three months later. Clinical and histopathological aspects of this feline dermatosis are compared with human and canine morphea.