ABSTRACT
Flea allergy dermatitis is one of the most common causes of pruritus in dogs and cats. The degree of pruritus observed in the allergic animal varies widely and is dependent on numerous factors. Management of the flea-allergic patient is extremely frustrating for the owner and the veterinarian. Establishing an organized flea control program for use on the patient and in the environment will help to avoid frustration when dealing with this common ectoparasite of cats and dogs.
Subject(s)
Cat Diseases/etiology , Dog Diseases/etiology , Ectoparasitic Infestations/veterinary , Pruritus/veterinary , Siphonaptera , Animals , Cat Diseases/parasitology , Cats , Dog Diseases/parasitology , Dogs , Ectoparasitic Infestations/complications , Pruritus/etiology , Pruritus/parasitologySubject(s)
Cat Diseases/surgery , Eosinophilic Granuloma/veterinary , Laser Therapy/veterinary , Animals , Cats , Eosinophilic Granuloma/surgery , Female , MaleABSTRACT
Serum from goats immunized with human type V collagen chains that were cut out of polyacrylamide gels contained an antibody that recognized only type V collagen in an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay and did not label laminin, fibronectin, or types I and IV collagen. Western blot analysis of the antibody showed that its determinant was the alpha 3 (V) chain of type V collagen. Indirect immunofluorescent staining of intact human skin with the antibody produced staining of the dermal blood vessels but not of the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ). In contrast, both the dermal blood vessels and the DEJ were labeled by the antibody if the skin substrate was first split through the lamina lucida region of the DEJ by incubation in 1 M NaCl solution. Indirect immunoelectron microscopy confirmed the staining pattern found by immunofluorescence and defined the ultrastructural localization of type V collagen in skin. Type V collagen is localized within the DEJ to the lamina lucida region and polar aspects of the basal cell keratinocyte plasma membrane.
Subject(s)
Collagen/metabolism , Skin/metabolism , Collagen/classification , Collagen/immunology , Electrophoresis , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Humans , Immunization , Immunologic Techniques , Microbial Collagenase/pharmacology , Microscopy, Electron , Skin/ultrastructure , Tissue DistributionABSTRACT
The diagnosis of trombiculiasis in a cat was based on the presence of an orange, crusting dermatosis, and identification of 6-legged larvae in skin scrapings. The prevalence of the disease may be higher than suggested by the number of reports in the literature, and due to the lack of pruritus, often may be overlooked.
Subject(s)
Cat Diseases/diagnosis , Mite Infestations/veterinary , Trombiculiasis/veterinary , Animals , Cats , Female , Trombiculiasis/diagnosisABSTRACT
A colony of mixed-breed dogs (n = 298) naturally infested with Sarcoptes scabiei was treated, twice, with 200 micrograms of ivermectin/kg of body weight subcutaneously at 14-day intervals. After the initial injection, positive skin scrapings from 20 treated dogs decreased from 7 to 1 and the degree of pruritus decreased. In contrast, positive skin scrapings from 22 nontreated dogs increased from 10 to 14, and there was an additional deterioration in the condition of the skin and an increase in the degree of pruritus. Complete control was noticed in all treated dogs by posttreatment day 28 (14 days after a 2nd injection) based on negative skin scrapings.
