spas spasov – Vets on the Balkans - an online journal for veterinarians from the Balkans

Pemphigus foliaceus in a cat

October 8, 2021

Dr Spas Spasov

Veterinary Center Dr Antonov

Varna, Bulgaria

1.Case History

The cat is 3 y old ,female non castrated ,regular vaccinated ,tick and flea treatment with advocate .

The problem of the cat begane one year ago in with claw bed problems ( yellow puss from there ) ,the cat have also lesions on its ears and nose .

In other clinic in other country my other vet is start with antibiotics and steroid therapy (improvement for few months )

2.Clinical presentation

Paronychia, crusty and scaly nose ,crusty and scaly ears, pruritus, painful walking no other skin lesions and symptoms .

3.Differential diagnoses

Fungal infection

Pemphigus Foliaceus

Demodecosis

Pyodermia

Allergy

4.Diagnostic approach

CBC and Biochemistry –Unremarkable

DTM – Negative

Skin scrape and scotch tape – Negative

Cytology – Neutrophils ,bacteria ( cocci ) and acantholytic cells .

Microbiology ( Staff .aureus )

5.Therapeutic approach

14 days Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid and topical therapy with chlorexiderm 4 % ( almost no improvement)

New cytology – Normal neutrophils and acantholytic cells (no bacteria )

Punch biopsy of nail bed .

Pathohistologi report :

Report – Histopathology release date: 23.02.2021

Description

There were examined 5 representative sections (Hematoxylin-Eosin stain) from each sample, showing

similar histopathological appearance:

Epidermis with orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, spongiosis and crusts (composed of acantholitic cells and

neutrophils). Superfcial and deep dermis show oedema, perivasculary to diffuse infammatory infltrate

with eosinophils, few mast cells, few lymphocytes and plasma cells. The hair follicles are in telogen and

catagen phases. The glands (apocrine and sebaceous glands) are well represented, without any

changes. There is no evidence of neoplasia, parasites or fungi in the examined sections.

There were examined 5 representative sections (PAS stain – fungi) from each sample, showing similar

histopathological appearance:

NEGATIVE

Interpretation

The histopathological appearance is consistent with hyperkeratosis, suppurative epidermitis, chronicactive dermatitis with eosinophilic component (allergic component).

Comments

The histopathological aspects are suggestive for pemphigus foliaceus. Suspicion is confirmed.

Therapy :

Prednisolon tablets 2 mg per kg twice a day for 14 days then slowly reduce dose to a minimum working dosage .

6 moths later the cat was perfect then ,the owners call regular just to tell us that everything is ok .

Diagnose :

Pemphigus foliaceus

Demodicosis in cat

December 2, 2020

Case history

Puffy is a 1 y old stray cat.

Regular tick an flea control with Broadline, regular vacsinations.

The problems of the cats apears 6 months ago:

Sever pruritus, hypotrichosis and allpetia, ulcerations in difrient parts of the skin.

Multiple treatment:

Antibiotics, steroids, antifungal vaccinations and hydrolyzed diet (royal canin analergenic and purina hypoallergenic) No effect at all.

Case presentation.

The cate came to the clinic at 23.06.2020.

At that moment it was with acute pruritus, allopetia, hypotrichosis, ulcerations of the skin, a little bit waxy ears, low appetite for last two weeks.

The cat have negative FIV / FelV test, normal CBC, biochemistry unremarkable.

Diferentials :

Atopic dermatitis /Food allergy

eosinophil granuloma complex

Demodecosis

Dermatomycosis

Diagnostic approach :

Citology –Cooci bacteria ,neutrophils and just a few eosinophils

Trichogram :

Folicular casts and demodex cati

Deep skin scraping –Multiple demodex mites .

Treatment :

Credelio every month .

After seconde credelio the cat was adopted in Germany so we don’t see her in the end of treatment ,but the ownrs says that her skin is perfect now .

Conclusions :

Demodecosis is cats is less common compare to dogs ,but always have to be in diferentilas in cats with pruritus and waxy ears .

It could be with very pleomorphic clinic and always should be performed deep skin scrapyng if we suspect demodecosis .

Panda mouse- case presentation

April 28, 2020

Dr Spas Spasov

Veterinary Center Dr Antonov

Varna, Bulgaria

Case presentation

Whole family of Panda mice (two adults and 12 babies) were presented at the clinic with acute and severe Pruritus and progressive history of hair loss for the past two weeks.

Clinical signs:

Severe Pruritus, Hypotrichosis, Seborrhea and secondary scratch wounds.

These symptoms are presented in all of the 14 mice.

Diagnostics:

Scotch tape samples from two of the babies and both adults.

All samples were positive for the parasite Myocoptes musculinus (dozens – male, female and eggs).

Coproparazitologic sample

Coproparazitologic sample

Fecal samples (native and flotation) were done – both were negative for endoparasites and positive for mites (adults and eggs).

Treatment:

Once a week – Ivermectine spot on and disinfection of the enclosure.

Data:

Myocoptes musculinus is the most common parasite in mice.

Typical affected areas are the neck, the head and the shoulders.

Oral Ivermectin doesn’t seem to be very effective. Environmental sanitation is vital.

There’s no data of zoonotic aspect .

REFERENCES:

Small Animal Dermatology 7th edition

The power of local therapy in superficial bacterial infections- part 2

March 9, 2020

Dr Spas Spasov

Veterinary Center Dr Antonov

Varna, Bulgaria

Sandra is a French bulldog whose case I have been following for 2 years.

Sandra is regularly vaccinated and with regular tick and flea treatmen and dewormig as well .

When we first met, Sandra was prescribed 2 mg of Prednisolone per kg in the morning and evening.

There were already 2-3 diets with hypoallergenic food with no results .

When the dog is on Prednisolone is very good, with no symptoms.

Sandra has been on immunotherapy for two years and during this time there are a total of 3-4 exacerbated periods with superficial bacterial infection.

To control these infections we tried various antibacterial shampoos and the ONLY systemic antibiotic we used was amoxicillin with clavulonic acid (at least one month ingestion)

During immunotherapy, Sandra takes 1/4 of Prednisolone at 5 mg every 36 hours (Sandra weights about 15 kg throughout the therapy).

For two years, Sandra was very good, and controlling the pyoderma was relatively easy without changing the doses of immunotherapy and without changing the dose of Prednisolone.

The last case of bacterial infection was the beginning of November 2019.

We began the scheme with Chloroxiderm and Amoxicillin with clavulonic acid.

10 days later, it had no effect, even the opposite.

Sandra’s skin was flushed with pustules, color and intense itching.

We did cytology, bacteriology and antibiogram.

The results (Staph. intermedius ) were completely resistant to 15 types of antibiotic from different groups.

The only antibiotic that worked was Rifampim, which is a strategic antibiotic in human medicine and we decided not to use.

Sandra’s improvement has been much slower and in the last few months we have changed several different regimens of local therapy.

Peptive Shampoo & Foam, Duoxo tampons & duoxo spo on (First Month Every Day)

Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, Chloroxiderm shampoo, Duxo pyo shampoo and foam (second month every day)

Since the beginning of January, Sandra has been on Peptive again with a bath twice a week and a hermitra spray.

The itching has decreased to normal, there are no new pustules and the hair is gradually recovering.

In conclusion, every time we use an antibiotic for systemic therapy or topical therapy, we should think very carefully about all the possible options because resistance is one of the greatest problems of our future.

Diagnosis :

Atopic dermatitis

Superfitial pyodermia

The power of local therapy in superficial bacterial infections- part 1

March 1, 2020

Dr Spas Spasov

Veterinary center Dr Antonov

Varna, Bulgaria

A topic not only for dermatologists.

“Recent high-profile reports warn of the dangers of not taking action. A bleak report by economist Jim O’Neill, commissioned by the British government and released in May, estimates that 700 000 deaths globally could be attributed to AMR this year and that the annual toll would climb to 10 million deaths in the next 35 years. The report projects US$ 100 trillion in losses by 2050 if nothing is done to reverse the trend.”

Aa quote from the World Health Association website.

1.Clinical case of Azar .

*HISTORY

Azar is a 3 years old cane corso dog.

There is a regular vaccination and tick and flea teratments with tablets (isoxazolines).

Case history .

A month and a half ago, the owner has taken Azar to another clinic because of the many pustules on the dog’s chin.

Clinical symptoms include itching in the facial area, redness, and many of about 0.5 cm pustules all over the chin.
Systemic antibiotic therapy and topical once-daily chloroxidine therapy were prescribed for Azar.

Two weeks later there was no change in the condition of the dog.

Bacteriology and antibiogram were performed( Staph. Aureus ) , a second systemic antibiotic was added after the result (the first antibiotic was discontinued).

Staphyococcus aureus is extracted from the antibiogram.

Both antibiotics show the sensitivity of the causative agent.

Two weeks after the second antibiotic, there was no change in Azar’s condition.

Clinical presentation

At the initial examination, Azar was in good general condition, but there were numerous pimples throughout the chin area, which were very easily bleeding and pussing.

In addition, Azar defecates 3-5 times a day and most times the stools are not well formed.

We did cytology and deep scraping of the skin.

Cytology:
Mass neutrophils, macrophages, and cocci bacteria.

Skin scraping
No demodex or other parasites of deep skin scraping.

Initial therapy:

Local therapy with daily chloroxiderm shampoo, duxo pio tampons and duxo seb spot form and Diprogenta 0.5 mg / 1 mg / g cream

betamethasone / gentamicin for 10 days.

The effect after the first 10 days is significant and more than satisfactory, so the therapy prescribed after day 10 was changed only with shampoo with peptide.

10 days later, there were almost no signs of infection.

10 days later, Azar’s therapy was limited to once daily administration of the duxo self-tampons and once a week the duxo-seb spot form, as well as a curative diet with the Analergenic diet.

There are no signs of bacterial infection now, gastrointestinal symptoms are no longer observed, and therapy is just cleansing with duxo swabs (suitable for daily use).

Diagnosis:

Chin furunculosis and suspected food allergy.

Fibrosarcoma in rabbit

July 19, 2017 1 Comment

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Dr Spas Spasov

United veterinary Clinic Varna, Bulgaria

Fibrosarcoma in rabbits are malignancy rapidly grow soft tissues tumor. Can affect cats dogs and rabbits . The couse of fibrosarcoma in rabbit also can be a viral infection (polyomavirus, malignant rabbit fibroma virus)

Clinical case

Case description
Rabbit, female , entire , 5 years old was evaluated because of sings of anorexia and apathy .
History
The owners reported that a week ago the rabbit progressively stops eating. The last two days it didn’t eat at all. Тhe rabbit has regularly deworming and vaccination.
The rabbit eats hay and rabbit granules only and lives in an apartment and never go outside, there are no others animals in the apartment.

Clinical manifestations
Anorexia, cachexia, apathy, unilateral uveitis, normal temperature (38.5).
Clinical examination revealed all of the body (back, neck, abdomen and all the legs) nodules, which are not painful, mobile, not tempered and pigmented .The size of the nodules was variable from 1 to 5 centimeters.
Some nodules were ulcerated and bleeding, and still painless. Such formations are not observed in the nose and the ears, and the front part of the head.
Diagnostic approach:
We did not find any abnormalities on the X-ray examination of the chest and abdomen. A nodule was surgically removed by cutting.
Symptomatic therapy was appointed until the results of the histopathological examination:
Metoclopramide-0,5mg / kg
Ranitidine-4 mg / kg
Simethicone-65mg / rabbit
Meloxicam-1mg / kg
Enrofloxacin, 10 mg / kg
Intravenous infusion Hartman 4ml / kg / hour.
So designated therapy lasted about 10 days pending the results of pathological examination The condition of the animal slightly improved, which is expressed in phrases in appearance of appetite. The animal took small amounts of food.

Diagnosis:

Fibrosarcoma
The prognosis for this type of tumors is garded to poor. Because of poor condition of the patient and the prognosis owners decided to euthanased the rabbit.