Plasma Cell Pododermatitis Associated With Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Concomitant Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) Infection in a Cat

• Published in: Topics in companion animal medicine 2020-11, Vol.41, p.100475, Article 100475
• Main Authors: Biezus, Giovana, de Cristo, Thierry Grima, da Silva Schade, Michele Ferraz, Ferian, Paulo Eduardo, Carniel, Felipe, Miletti, Luiz Claudio, Maciel, Aline da Rosa, Casagrande, Renata Assis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alopecia; Animals; Antibodies; Antigenemia; Bacterial infections; Biochemistry; Biopsy; Blood; Blood cells; Cat Diseases - diagnosis; Cat Diseases - virology; Cats; Coinfection - veterinary; Coinfection - virology; Crusts; Deoxyribonucleic acid; dermatitis; Discoloration; DNA; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - blood; Feline leukemia; feline medicine; Foot Dermatoses - veterinary; Foot Dermatoses - virology; immune-mediated disease; Immunoassay; Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline - isolation & purification; Infections; Leukemia; Leukemia Virus, Feline - isolation & purification; Lymphocytes; Male; Metacarpal; Metatarsus; Neutrophils; Pathogenesis; Plasma; Plasma Cells; Proteins; Retroviridae Infections - blood; Retroviridae Infections - veterinary; retrovirus; Swelling; Tumor Virus Infections - blood; Tumor Virus Infections - veterinary; Viruses
• ISSN: 1938-9736; 1946-9837; 1876-7613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tcam.2020.100475

This report aims to describe one case of plasma cell pododermatitis associated with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and concomitant feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection in a cat. A 2-year-old, intact male, mixed-breed cat was presented with alopecia, skin peeling, and erythematous swelling in the left metacarpal paw pad. Swelling, softening, ulceration with secondary crusts, and erythematous to violaceous discoloration were observed in multiple metacarpal, metatarsal, and digital paw pads. Complete blood count and serum biochemistry were analyzed. FeLV antigenemia and FIV seropositivity were assessed by immunoassay (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Nested-PCR was used to detect FIV and FeLV proviral DNA in blood cells. Histopathological examination and anti-FeLV and anti-FIV immunohistochemical were performed on paw pad biopsies. According to clinical and histopathological findings, a diagnosis of plasma cell pododermatitis was made. The cat was FIV and FeLV seropositive. The immunohistochemical of paw pad biopsies revealed FeLV positivity and FIV negativity. This study provides reference for further investigations about feline plasma cell pododermatitis and highlights retrovirus infection as a potential factor associated with this disease.