Odile Crosaz

Skin fragility syndrome in a cat with multicentric follicular lymphoma

An 11-year-old, spayed female domestic shorthair cat was presented for a right flank wound. On clinical examination, a single non-painful skin tear lesion with irregular edges was detected. During the examination, star-shaped cigarette paper-like skin lesions appeared spontaneously. An abdominal mass was also palpated. Feline skin fragility syndrome (FSFS) was suspected and a multicentric lymphoma was diagnosed by fine needle aspiration. The cat’s condition declined and it died spontaneously. Post-mortem examination confirmed the diagnosis of lymphoma. Neoplastic lymphocytes were not observed in the skin. Histological analysis of the skin was consistent with the morphological aspects of FSFS. A possible direct link between the two conditions remains a matter of speculation, but this case report provides the first description of FSFS associated with multicentric follicular lymphoma. Thus, multicentric follicular lymphoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cats presenting with FSFS.

Efficacy of two formulations of afoxolaner (NexGard® and NexGard Spectra®) for the treatment of generalised demodicosis in dogs, in veterinary dermatology referral centers in Europe

BackgroundA multi-centre field trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of afoxolaner based chewables (NexGard® or NexGard Spectra®) for the treatment of generalised demodicosis caused by Demodex canis in dogs under field conditions in France, Italy and Poland.MethodsClient-owned dogs, diagnosed positive for Demodex mites by pre-treatment skin scrapings and presenting clinical signs of generalised demodicosis were included. Dogs were orally treated with afoxolaner three times at monthly intervals. Of the 50 dogs enrolled, 48 completed the whole study. Efficacy of the treatments was assessed monthly by Demodex mite counts and physical examination with special regard to the severity and extension of skin lesions.ResultsTreatments were well tolerated in all dogs and resulted in a rapid reduction of mites, with all post-treatment mite counts significantly lower than baseline. The number of mites was reduced by 87.6%, 96.5% and 98.1% on Days 28, 56 and 84, respectively. In addition, the skin lesion severity and extent scores as well as the pruritus were all significantly lower at all post-treatment visits compared to the pre-treatment assessment.ConclusionsThis clinical field study demonstrated that monthly administrations of afoxolaner in NexGard® or NexGard Spectra®, offered a convenient and reliable solution for the treatment of canine generalised demodicosis.

Rôle des animaux vertébrés dans la transmission des champignons dermatophytes pathogènes pour l’homme

Resume Les animaux vertebres peuvent intervenir dans la transmission d’agents fongiques responsables de mycoses humaines de deux facons. Certains animaux hebergent des agents de zoonoses fongiques et constituent, a ce titre une source directe de contamination de l’homme le plus souvent par contact ou inoculation. D’autres assurent simplement la survie et la dissemination dans l’environnement d’agents fongiques. Ils constituent alors un reservoir mais ne sont pas directement responsables de la contamination humaine. Cet article ne concerne que les dermatophytes, champignons filamenteux keratinophiles et keratinolytiques a l’origine de lesions cutanees chez l’animal et chez l’homme. Certains dermatophytes d’origine animale ( Microsporum canis , Trichophyton mentagrophytes au sens large et T. verrucosum principalement) sont transmissibles a l’homme. Ils sont a l’origine de teignes du cuir chevelu (tinea capitis) ou de lesions de la peau glabre (epidermophytose circinee). La contamination humaine se fait par contact direct avec un animal (un chat, un chien, un rongeur, un lapin, un ruminant, moins frequemment un equide) ou a partir de l’environnement souille par des spores (arthroconidies) de dermatophytes.

Generalized dermatitis associated with Malassezia overgrowth in cats: A report of six cases in France.

Abstract We recently observed six cases of generalized dermatitis associated with Malassezia overgrowth in cats presented to the Veterinary College of Alfort, France. Elevated numbers of yeasts were observed in lesional skin by cytology and culture. Skin lesions occurred on the face, ventral neck, abdomen and ear canals and were characterized by some degree of alopecia, erythema and crusting. In most cases, pruritus was intense. The species M. pachydermatis was systematically isolated.