Recurrent localised cutaneous parapoxvirus infection in three cats.
METHODS
Three cats were presented with single proliferative lesions affecting one foot, which failed to heal after medical treatment, and recurred despite surgical resection.


RESULTS
Histologically, the lesions were proliferative and papillary. There was marked acanthosis, rete peg formation, and compact orthokeratosis, with large numbers of bacteria in the orthokeratotic scale. Some biopsies had multifocal keratinocyte swelling of the stratum granulosum, and amphophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions were present in some of the swollen cells. The dermis consisted of a light fibrous stroma with marked capillary proliferation. Parapoxviruses were detected in the lesions of all cats by electron microscopic examination. PCR analysis detected orf virus (contagious ecthyma virus) in two cats, and orf virus was cultured from one cat.


METHODS
Parapoxvirus infection in cats.


CONCLUSIONS
Parapoxvirus infection should be considered as a differential diagnosis when dealing with proliferative, non-healing lesions on the feet of cats, especially cats in rural areas. The recovery of orf virus from a cat with typical poxvirus lesions extends the range of species affected by this virus.
Fairley
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Gribbles Veterinary Laboratory, PO Box 3866, Christchurch, New Zealand. rob.fairley@gribbles.co.nz
Whelan
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Pesavento
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PA
Mercer
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AA
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011213:Poxviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D017193:Skin Diseases, Viral / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins