A fatal case of cowpox virus infection in a cat

作者：Schiavi Silvia; Vercelli Antonella; Cornegliani Luisa; Miragliotta Vincenzo; Abramo Francesca

来源：Veterinaria, 2010, 24(3): 57-60.

• Poxvirus
• inclusion bodies
• skin
• lung
• cat

An 8 year-old neutered short haired cat was presented with a history of generalized dermatitis, fever and lethargy unsuccessfully treated as an allergic disease. The cat was febrile (40.1 degrees C), lethargic, dyspnoeic, showed oral ulcers on the tongue and soft palate, nasal discharge and bilateral keratoconjunctivitis. At X ray examination a multifocal alveolar interstitial pattern and bronchial pattern and a dorsal well defined area of pneumoderma between dermis and the underlying panniculus were revealed. After clipping of the region affected by pneumoderma, polycyclic bluish necrotic areas alternating with whitish oedematous and reddish erythematous areas were detected. Histologically these skin lesions were mostly represented by coalescing epidermal and follicular necrosis. Keratinocytes were undergoing focally extensive necrosis or apoptosis, and showed ballooning degeneration with cytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies. The underlying dermis had interstitial infiltrate of neutrophils with nuclear dusting and haemorrhages. Ultrastructural studies revealed square-shaped particles typical of the orthopoxvirus. The cat suddenly died for respiratory complications. This case represents a rare lethal form of acute poxvirus infection characterized by pulmonary involvement and localized skin necrosis.

• 出版日期2010-6