Multiple follicular abnormalities in a 1-year old cat consistent with basaloid follicular hamartomas.

BACKGROUND: In humans, basaloid follicular hamartomas are benign follicular tumours, that can be solitary or multiple, in which case they show autosomal dominant inheritance. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: This study describes clinical and histopathological findings observed in a young cat, which could be consistent with basaloid follicular hamartomas. CASE DESCRIPTION: Multiple follicular abnormalities, consistent with cutaneous diffuse basaloid follicular hamartomas, were observed in skin samples from a one-year old neutered domestic short hair cat. Clinical signs were diffuse symmetrical alopecia with exaggerated skin markings (ventral abdomen, thorax and medial aspects of the limbs) and intense follicular-centred thickening (face and feet). Microscopic lesions were characterised by multiple proliferative follicular abnormalities in all samples. The epidermis showed a very irregular surface with the follicles filled with variably pigmented keratin. The epithelial walls of the follicles had multiple small hyperplastic basaloid cells foci. In the superficial dermis under the epidermis and around the follicles, fibroblastic spindle-shaped mesenchymal cells with a homogeneous moderate density were present in the collagenous connective tissue. The interfollicular epidermis was also abnormal with multiple small proliferating trichoblastic foci originating from the basal layer. RNAscope testing for feline papillomavirus was negative. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This case report provides the first evidence of clinical and histopathological findings of multiple follicular abnormalities, consistent with cutaneous diffuse basaloid follicular hamartomas in a cat.

De multiples anomalies folliculaires, compatibles avec des hamartomes folliculaires basaloïdes diffus cutanés, ont été observées dans des échantillons de peau d'un chat domestique à poils courts castré âgé d'un an. Les signes cliniques étaient une alopécie diffuse symétrique avec des marques cutanées exagérées (abdomen ventral, thorax et face médiale des membres) et un épaississement folliculaire intense (face et pieds).

Múltiplas anormalidades foliculares, consistentes com hamartomas cutâneos foliculares basaloides difusos, foram observadas em amostras de pele de um gato doméstico de pelo curto castrado de um ano de idade. Os sinais clínicos foram alopecia simétrica difusa com marcações cutâneas exuberantes (abdômen, tórax e aspecto medial dos membros) e espessamento folicular central intenso (face e patas).

Se observaron múltiples anomalías foliculares, consistentes con hamartomas foliculares basaloides difusos cutáneos, en muestras de piel de un gato doméstico de pelo corto castrado de 1 año. Los signos clínicos fueron alopecia simétrica difusa con marcas cutáneas exageradas (abdomen ventral, tórax y cara medial de las extremidades) e intenso engrosamiento de la piel centrado en los folículos (cara y pies).

Control of canine idiopathic nasal hyperkeratosis with a natural skin restorative balm: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Nasal hyperkeratosis may cause discomfort in dogs by predisposing them to fissures and secondary bacterial infection. Approaches to treatment have been described anecdotally; the effectiveness of such therapies remains unproven. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy of a balm containing essential oils and essential fatty acids in dogs with idiopathic nasal hyperkeratosis. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs with noncomplicated nasal hyperkeratosis. METHODS: The study was conducted as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with parallel group design and two month follow-up period. Dogs received daily topical application of a commercial balm product (group DBB) or placebo (aqueous gelling agent with preservatives, group PB). The main outcome variables were lichenification, dryness, suppleness and extent of lesions. Subjective owner satisfaction index score was a secondary variable. Evaluation was performed on days (D)0, 30 and 60. Response to treatment was assessed as the change from baseline to each examination day for each criterion. RESULTS: Forty eight dogs, principally French (26 of 48) and English (seven of 48) bulldogs, were included and 39 completed the study. No major adverse events were reported. On D60, changes from baseline for lichenification, lesion extent, suppleness and total score were -31.2%, -18.3%, -72.8% and -36.8% in group DBB (23 dogs) and -11.9%, 2.3%, -42.1% and -14% in group PB (16 dogs), respectively. The total score was significantly improved on D60 in group DBB compared to PB (Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney U-test, P = 0.0016). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The balm proved safe and helpful in managing canine idiopathic noncomplicated nasal hyperkeratosis.

Treatment of Neotrombicula species infestation in cats using a 10% (w/v) fipronil topical spot-on formulation: a pilot study.

Objectives Few data are available concerning therapeutic aspects of feline trombiculiasis. This study evaluated the efficacy of a 10% w/v fipronil-based spot-on solution in 15 cats with natural Neotrombicula species infestation. Methods Ten cats received 1 drop per affected site on day (D)0 and D14, with the rest of the 0.5 ml pipette applied on the skin between the shoulders. Five cats served as non-treated controls. Parasite score (0 = absent; 3 = severe, >10 parasites/zone) was assessed on D0, D14 and D28 on all animals. Skin lesions (SCORing Feline Allergic Dermatitis lesion severity scale [SCORFAD]) and investigator pruritus scale (IPS; 0 = cat comfortable, grooming like any normal cat; 4 = cat uncomfortable, pruritic all the time) were assessed on treated cats on the same days. Global assessment of efficacy, tolerance and ease of use (GAS; 1 = very poor; 5 = excellent) was assessed on D28. Results All the cats completed the study. Parasite scores of the control cats were maintained throughout the trial (mean ± SD: D0 4 ± 0.7, D14 3.2 ± 1.1 and D28 3.2 ± 0.4). In treated cats, SCORFAD (D0 3.2 ± 5.4, D14 1.1 ± 2.1 [ P <0.002] and D28 0.5 ± 1.3 [ P <0.002]), parasite (D0 3.9 ± 1.3, D14 1.2 ± 0.8 [ P <0.005] and D28 0.4 ± 0.5 [ P <0.005]) and IPS (D0 1 ± 1.2, D14 0.5 ± 1.1 [ P <0.05] and D28 0.3 ± 0.7 [ P <0.05]) scores significantly decreased throughout the trial. On D28, the GAS was 4.2 ± 0.9. There were no adverse effects from treatment. Conclusions and relevance The 10% w/v fipronil preparation appeared to be effective, safe and practical in the treatment of localised Neotrombicula species infestation in these cats.