A Clinical, Pathological and I mmunopathological Study of Vitiligo in a Siamese Cat

Abstract- The clinical, histopathological and ultrastructural features of a spayed female Siamese cat with a three-and-a-half year history of progressive cutaneous depigmentation are described. Clinically the condition was characterised by progressive leukoderma of the nose, pinna and footpad skin, and multifocal leukotrichia involving the whole body. Histopathological and ultrastructural studies confirmed the absence of melanocytes and melanin in the epidermis and hair follicles of affected areas. Immunohistochemical study revealed areas with absence of immune response to anti-vimentin antiserum, which was interpreted as a loss of dendritic cells, especially melanocytes. Diagnosis of vitiligo was based on the clinical signs and pathological features. This study adds a new case of this uncommon condition in the cat, and documents some previously non-reported features of feline vitiligo, such as the chronic progressive and generalised nature of the skin lesions, and its reversible character with partial lentiginous repigmentation on the pinna.