Flea Allergic Dermatitis
This article is still under construction. |
Also known as: | FAD, Flea Allergy Dermatitis, Flea Bite Hypersensitivity, FBH, Flea Dermatosis |
Description
Flea allergic dermatitis is the most common skin disease of dogs and cats worldwide. Cases are caused by flea infestation, mainly by Ctenocephalides felis, the cat flea, but Ctenocephalides canis, Archaeopsylla erinacei, Spylopsyllus cuniculi and Pulex irritans can also be found on cats and dogs. Fleas are blood sucking, wingless insects that live and breed in the hair coat of an animal and often cause pruritis and annoyance. The term flea allergic dermatitis refers to the condition that arises due to hypersensitivity to flea saliva. Flea saliva also contains irritant components that contribute to the disease.
Signalment
Dogs and cats of any age may be afflicted by flea allergic dermatitis.
Diagnosis
Clinical Signs
- Mainly
dorsolumbosacral area involved, abdomen, caudomedial thighs, flanks,
neck of cats
- Secondary trauma is self-inflicted
- Grossly:
- Papular
dermatitis
- Secondary excoriations
- Alopecic nodule if
chronic
Laboratory Tests
Radiography
Biopsy
Endoscopy
Pathology
Grossly:
- Papular dermatitis
- Secondary excoriations
- Alopecic nodule if chronic
- Microscopically:
- Hyperplastic superficial perivascular dermatitis
- Oedema, mast cells, basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, histiocytes
- Fibropruritic nodules covered by hyperplastic epidermis
- Microscopically:
- Hyperplastic superficial
perivascular dermatitis
- Oedema, mast cells,
basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, histiocytes
- Fibropruritic nodules
covered by hyperplastic epidermis