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Feline poxvirus infection. A case report
M G Canese1, A Lavazza, A Massone
1Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Turin.
Schweizer Archiv Fur Tierheilkunde
|January 1, 1997
Summary
A domestic cat experienced a poxvirus infection, presenting solely with skin lesions that resolved in two and a half months. Electron microscopy confirmed orthopoxvirus genus particles in skin samples.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Dermatology
- Virology
- Pathology
Background:
- Poxvirus infections are known in various animal species, but feline cases are rare.
- Understanding poxvirus tropism and clinical presentation in domestic animals is crucial for disease management.
Observation:
- A domestic cat presented with multifocal, crusting skin lesions.
- Lesions healed spontaneously within 10 weeks without systemic signs.
- Histopathology revealed characteristic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies consistent with poxviral cytopathic effects.
Findings:
- Electron microscopy of skin biopsies and scrapings identified virus particles with morphology consistent with the Orthopoxvirus genus.
- The isolated feline poxvirus did not cause specific lesions in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for Orthopoxvirus genus infections in domestic cats.
- Further research is needed to characterize feline poxviruses and their zoonotic potential.
- This finding contributes to the differential diagnosis of dermatological conditions in felines.