title: Feline cutaneous toxoplasmosis: a case report.
abstract: A 9-year-old female, domestic short hair cat was presented with sudden onset of polyuria/polydipsia, and hundreds of cutaneous nodules. Prior to referral, the cat had had four skin nodules that were treated with steroids. The four skin nodules then multiplied to form more than 100 ulcerated and nonulcerated nodules located all over the trunk. Clinical evaluation revealed hypothermia and respiratory distress. Cytology from both skin nodules and bronchoalveolar lavage showed macrophages and small organisms whose shape and size were indicative of Toxoplasma spp., or similar organisms. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) serology results were negative. The cat was seropositive for Toxoplasma (IgG 1 : 640) and Neospora (1 : 80) infections. The cat died soon after referral. Necropsy revealed pyothorax, necrotic/purulent pneumonia, haemorrhagic spots on kidneys and mesentery. Histopathology from skin nodules showed diffuse, deep necrotic dermatitis/panniculitis, vasculitis and disseminated free and grouped protozoa. The parasites were found in lungs, spleen, kidneys and liver. Immunohistochemistry on skin tissue with anti-Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum antibodies gave positive results with both. Electron microscopy showed single and grouped tachyzoites with morphological features of T. gondii, often within macrophages. Samples of cutaneous nodules and bronchoalveolar fluid were examined by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for detecting apicomplexa coccidia. PCR results were consistent only with T. gondii infection. Therefore, immunohistochemistry positivity for N. caninum was considered a cross-reaction and a diagnosis of cutaneous and visceral toxoplasmosis was made.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Sezione Diagnostica di Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anfray
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonetti
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fabbrini
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Magnino
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mancianti
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abramo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D002415:Cats; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D012876:Skin Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan