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Doxycycline therapy in 10 cases of feline plasma cell pododermatitis: clinical, haematological and serological evaluations
Author(s) -
Scarampella F.,
Ordeix L.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
veterinary dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1365-3164
pISSN - 0959-4493
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2004.411_22.x
Subject(s) - cats , medicine , doxycycline , serology , erythema , gastroenterology , surgery , immunology , antibiotics , biology , antibody , microbiology and biotechnology
Various treatments have been described for feline plasma cell pododermatitis. Doxycycline has been reported recently as an effective medical option. Plasmacytic pododermatitis was diagnosed clinically and histopathologically in 10 cats. Blood samples for haematological, biochemical and immunological evaluation were taken before treatment. Cats were administered doxycycline at a dosage of 10 mg/kg/day for 40 days and re‐evaluated at 30 and 60 days. Biochemical evaluation was repeated at both rechecks. All were Domestic Short‐haired cats, eight males (five neutered) and two females (one spayed), ranging in age from 6 months to 8 years. Duration of lesions prior to consultation ranged from 1 to 48 months. Lesions were present in multiple footpads in all cases and consisted of swelling and softening (100%), erythema (50%), exfoliation (60%) and ulceration (20%). Haematological and serological findings included: thrombocytopenia (70%), leucocytosis (40%), lymphopenia (30%), and mild to pronounced hypergammaglobulinaemia (100%). Four of nine cats were FIV positive, 9/9 were FeLV negative, and 4/4 were negative for leishmaniosis. Response to treatment was as follows: complete remission within 30 days (one cat), complete remission within 60 days (four cats), more than 50% improvement in lesions (four cats), no improvement (one cat), and lost to follow up (one cat). Hypergammaglobulinaemia was still present in five of nine cats at day 60. Therapy with doxycycline at 10 mg/kg/day resulted in a high improvement rate in cats with plasma cell pododermatitis. Thrombocytopenia, a previously unreported haematological finding, was detected in the majority of the cats. Funding: Italian Society of Veterinary Dermatology, Merial.