title: Herpesvirus dermatitis in two cats without facial lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cats with feline herpesvirus (FeHV-1)-associated dermatitis typically present with ulcerative lesions on the rostral muzzle and nasal planum. This report describes FeHV-1 dermatitis in the flank region, in the absence of facial lesions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Clinicians should be aware of this unusual manifestation of FeHV-1 dermatitis to prevent potential misdiagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 12-year-old male castrated Bengal cat and a 3-year-old male castrated Siamese cat with plaques and ulcers in the flank region are described.
  
  
  METHODS
  Formalin-fixed biopsy samples were obtained from lesional skin. Histopathology and FeHV-1 immunohistochemistry were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each sample had epidermal and follicular necrosis with a dense dermal infiltrate of eosinophils. Few to moderate numbers of intranuclear inclusion bodies were present in keratinocytes. The presence of FeHV-1 in the lesions was confirmed with immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Feline herpesvirus-associated dermatitis should not be ruled out based on the location of the lesion, because a correct diagnosis is imperative for proper treatment. Future studies to assess the cause of lesions at this unusual site are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. msanchez@vet.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Melissa D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Goldschmidt
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mauldin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002415:Cats; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D017193:Skin Diseases, Viral / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*