A Scoring Index for Clinical Signs of Flea Allergy Dermatitis in the cat

This article describes the development, application, and validation of a scoring index for assessment of clinical signs in cats with flea allergy dermatitis (FAD). The Scoring Index for Clinical Signs of FAD was based on the evaluation and scoring of five signs over five anatomic areas, which is similar to the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), a commonly used scoring method in human dermatology. The Scoring Index for Clinical Signs of FAD was used by different veterinarians to assess several groups of flea allergic research cats with varying signs of FAD. Analysis of the data shows a significant correlation and repeatability between investigators, making this a very useful scoring index.