An Immunohistochemical and Polymerase Chain Reaction Evaluation of Feline Plasmacytic Pododermatitis

[Eccrine adenoma in a cat]

Tumors originating from eccrine glands are rare findings in dogs and cats. In most cases, the tumors are malignant, while adenomas are only reported anecdotally. In the present case, a one-year-old female, spayed cat was presented with a swelling of the footpad of the right forelimb. Initially, the mass possessed a diameter of 2 cm which progressed to 4 cm within the following two months. At the latter time point the tumor was ulcerated. After surgical removal, histological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. Histologically, a well demarcated, nodular, multilobular mass was present. The cuboidal to columnar neoplastic cells were arranged in tubular and acinar structures. Tumor cells possessed large, round to oval nuclei with moderately distinct nucleoli. Mitotic figures averaged 0-1 per high power field. Additionally, large areas of chondroid metaplasia were evident. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells were positive for pan-cytokeratin AE1/AE3 whereas thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF1) was not expressed. Based on the histological and immunohistochemical findings an adenoma of the eccrine glands was diagnosed.

Plasma Cell Pododermatitis Associated With Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Concomitant Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) Infection in a Cat

This report aims to describe one case of plasma cell pododermatitis associated with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and concomitant feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection in a cat. A 2-year-old, intact male, mixed-breed cat was presented with alopecia, skin peeling, and erythematous swelling in the left metacarpal paw pad. Swelling, softening, ulceration with secondary crusts, and erythematous to violaceous discoloration were observed in multiple metacarpal, metatarsal, and digital paw pads. Complete blood count and serum biochemistry were analyzed. FeLV antigenemia and FIV seropositivity were assessed by immunoassay (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Nested-PCR was used to detect FIV and FeLV proviral DNA in blood cells. Histopathological examination and anti-FeLV and anti-FIV immunohistochemical were performed on paw pad biopsies. According to clinical and histopathological findings, a diagnosis of plasma cell pododermatitis was made. The cat was FIV and FeLV seropositive. The immunohistochemical of paw pad biopsies revealed FeLV positivity and FIV negativity. This study provides reference for further investigations about feline plasma cell pododermatitis and highlights retrovirus infection as a potential factor associated with this disease.

Feline bartonellosis

Bartonella infection is common among domestic cats, but the role of Bartonella species as feline pathogens requires further study. Most Bartonella species that infect cats are zoonotic. Cats are the mammalian reservoir and vector for Bartonella henselae, an important zoonotic agent. Cat fleas transmit Bartonella among cats, and cats with fleas are an important source of human B henselae infections. New information about Bartonella as feline pathogens has recently been published, and this article summarizes much of that information. Issues surrounding diagnosis and treatment of feline Bartonella infections are described, and prevention of zoonotic transmission of Bartonella is discussed.

Nasal swelling due to plasma cell infiltrate in a cat without plasma cell pododermatitis

A cat with an upper respiratory infection was presented for examination. Close examination of the face revealed a firm, haired rounded swelling on the bridge of the nose. Serum protein electrophoresis demonstrated a mild hypergammaglobulinaemia. The cat tested negative for feline immunodeficiency virus. Skin biopsy of the nasal lesion revealed nodular angiocentric infiltrates in the deep dermis and subcutis. The mixed infiltrate had numerous plasma cells. Presence of calicivirus antigen could not be demonstrated within the skin lesion by immunohistochemical staining. The cat was treated for upper respiratory infection and 1 month later the nasal lesion had resolved. A firm and rounded swelling over the bridge of the nose may be a feline cutaneous plasmacytic reaction pattern.