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Feline Atopic Syndrome: Epidemiology and Clinical Presentation

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Feline Dermatology

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Abstract

Although very well defined and characterized in the dog, feline atopic syndrome remains less well understood with regard to disease pathogenesis and clinical presentations. While many similarities exist, questions remain whether atopic dermatitis is the same disease entity in dogs and cats. Atopic dermatitis in the cat is often referred to as “feline atopic syndrome” or “non-flea, non-food hypersensitivity dermatitis (NFNFHD).” Although the diagnostic process is similar for dogs and cats, with both being a diagnosis of exclusion, demonstration of immunoglobulin-E (IgE) involvement in feline atopic syndrome has been inconclusive. As with canine atopic dermatitis, pruritus remains a feature of the disease in cats; however, the distribution of pattern of pruritus and lesions is more variable in feline patients. Cats with feline atopic syndrome will typically present with at least one of four common cutaneous reaction patterns (head/neck/pinnal pruritus with excoriations, self-induced alopecia, miliary dermatitis, eosinophilic skin lesions). Additionally, non-cutaneous clinical signs may also be observed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Alison Diesel

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  1. Alison Diesel
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Correspondence to Alison Diesel .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Servizi Dermatologici Veterinari, Peveragno, Italy

    Chiara Noli

  2. Servizi Dermatologici Veterinari, Legnano, Italy

    Silvia Colombo

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Diesel, A. (2020). Feline Atopic Syndrome: Epidemiology and Clinical Presentation. In: Noli, C., Colombo, S. (eds) Feline Dermatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29836-4_21

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