TLDR Malassezia in cat skin biopsies may indicate internal cancer.
This retrospective study evaluated the presence of Malassezia spp. in 550 feline skin biopsy specimens submitted for histopathological examination between January 1999 and November 2000. Malassezia organisms were found in 15 (2.7%) of the samples, primarily in the stratum corneum of the epidermis or follicular infundibulum. Eleven of these 15 cats exhibited acute multifocal to generalized skin lesions and were euthanized or died within 2 months of symptom onset. Seven cats showed signs of paraneoplastic alopecia, and three had interface dermatitis indicative of erythema multiforme or thymoma-associated dermatosis. The study concluded that the presence of Malassezia in dermatopathological specimens from multifocal or generalized lesions should prompt a thorough clinical investigation for internal neoplasia.
52 citations
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January 1999 in “Journal of Small Animal Practice” Removing a cat's pancreatic cancer can temporarily reverse hair loss caused by the disease.
57 citations
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August 1998 in “The journal of small animal practice/Journal of small animal practice” Malassezia-associated dermatitis can cause itching in cats with feline paraneoplastic alopecia.
48 citations
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March 1997 in “Veterinary Dermatology” Some cats with sudden hair loss and tiredness might have cancer-related alopecia.
November 2019 in “Harper's Textbook of Pediatric Dermatology” The document is a detailed medical reference on skin and genetic disorders.
9 citations
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November 2014 in “Journal of feline medicine and surgery” Lymphocytic mural folliculitis in cats might be an early sign of pancreatic cancer.
48 citations
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May 2008 in “Drug Discovery Today: Disease Mechanisms” Hair follicles offer promising targets for delivering drugs to treat hair and skin conditions.
18 citations
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June 2019 in “Clinical research in dermatology” Acne can't be cured but can be managed with treatments like benzoyl peroxide and diet changes; it's costly and can lead to scarring and mental health issues.
April 2024 in “Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan Hewan” The cat fully recovered after treatment and showed no further symptoms.