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Veterinary researchers are shedding light on a strange mesmerizing skin condition found in hairless Sphynx cats. A condition called Erythema Figurate causes cats to develop complex, moving rashes all over their bodies. There is no clear explanation yet as to why fignate erythema occurs, although it seems to be rare, relatively harmless, and often temporary.
Erythema is a broad medical term for redness of the skin (an example would be erythema migrans, the bull’s-eye rash seen with Lyme disease). Visualize Erythema, or FE, is a known condition in humans, characterized by ring- or arc-shaped rashes. In people, it is often a symptom of underlying health problems, such as an infection or autoimmune problem, rather than a disease.
For some time now, cat owners, breeders, and veterinarians have occasionally reported similar rashes on Sphynx cats. But according to study author Ekaterina Mendoza-Kuznetsova, very little research has been done on feline FE. So he and his co-authors decided to do it themselves.
“When I worked in Moscow, Russia, my coworkers and I would see them regularly. Their clinical presentation is so unique and fascinating that it was very interesting to try to investigate this condition in a little more depth,” Mendoza-Kuznetsova, now a clinical veterinarian and professor at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, told Gizmodo. Told in an email. , “Also, there are many theories about this disorder among breeders and owners as well as veterinarians, so we wanted to try to answer at least some of the questions about what causes it.”
They sent out a call through local, national and international veterinary listservs, primarily around the Baltic Sea region of Europe, asking surgeons to report possible cases of FE in Sphynx breeds. Finding some common threads among the reports, they ultimately identified 11 such cases.
For example, all but one case occurred in male cats, and most began showing symptoms before one year of age. Although rashes may be worrisome for pet owners, cats generally do not show any other signs of systemic disease or co-occurring disease (one cat was reported to occasionally vomit around the time the rash began) ), nor did it happen. Any cat testing positive for a common fungal culprit of skin infections. The biggest problem cats experienced due to FE was itching in some. Potential treatments such as antibiotics or lifestyle changes such as a new diet do not affect the course of symptoms. Although rashes sometimes go away and come back, they usually improve or eventually go away completely on their own.
conclusion, published The report, published last month in the Journal of Veterinary Dermatology, is the first to formally document FE in Eastern European Sphynx cats. Given the lack of underlying disease, the authors argue that FE in Sphynx cats does not have much in common with FE found in humans and should be considered its own separate variant. In these cats, it’s probably only a cosmetic condition, Mendoza-Kuznetsova said, and not usually a sign of major health problems. Since FE often appears in very young men, there may be a genetic predisposition to developing it. It is also possible that FE may appear in other breeds, but since it appears only occasionally in Sphynx cats, it may be even less likely in “hairy” cats.
However, for now, Mendoza-Kuznetsova says this research is just a first step toward understanding the condition.
“I think the next logical step would be to investigate the possible genetic background of this condition,” she said. “During our study, whenever possible, we collected some additional material from affected cats, so we or my colleagues could conduct the next study focusing on genetic analysis.”
In the meantime, if Sphynx owners suspect their cat has FE, they can rest assured, although the problem may require some precaution and documentation.
“Since this condition appears to be more cosmetic, I believe owners of affected cats should not be too concerned if their cats develop lesions. But I would still consult a veterinarian and preferably a dermatologist. I would recommend going there to make sure the cat is not suffering from another serious condition that may look clinically similar,” said Mendoza-Kuznetsova. “In addition, we have received reports from different countries about this condition. “The more reports we get, the better our understanding of the distribution and progression of the disorder.”
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