White cat skin download6/18/2023 ![]() Histopathologic studies have helped us to understand the pathogenesis and similarities to atopic dermatitis in other species, including characterization of infiltration of activated antigen-presenting cells and T-lymphocytes in the skin of atopic individuals. While cutaneous changes on skin biopsy from atopic cats are well-described and histopathologic findings of feline atopy have been studied in detail ( 8), it is not a reliable diagnostic tool. As in canine atopic dermatitis, feline atopy seems to be caused by an exaggerated IgE and immunoglobulin G (IgG) response to environmental allergens ( 5, 6), but measurement of allergen-specific IgE does not help discriminate between normal and atopic cats ( 7). ![]() Increasingly, similarities between feline atopy and atopic dermatitis in humans and dogs are being documented. ![]() In a retrospective study with data collected over 11 years (2001 to 2012) disease prevalence of feline atopy was reported to be 12.5% ( 4). Feline atopy is regarded as the second most common allergy in cats after flea allergy dermatitis ( 3). ![]() Feline atopy (also called non-flea non-food allergic dermatitis or feline atopic dermatitis) is a type 1 hypersensitivity reaction causing pruritic skin disease in cats associated with the presence of skin-fixed or circulating immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies specific to environmental antigens (allergens) ( 1, 2). ![]()
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