Feline trombiculosis: a retrospective study in 72 cats

Abstract

This retrospective study suggests that feline trombiculosis is probably underestimated as a cause of pruritus and dermatological lesions. Epidemiological data regarding this infestation in cats are still lacking, and it will be interesting to perform a multicentre study to increase knowledge of this disease.

Straelensiosis in two cats and ten dogs from Israel

“…In both cats, deep skin scrapings showed six-legged mites, with morphological characteristics compatible with Straelensia spp., most likely S. cynotis (Fig 2). The mites showed of trombiculosis were recently reported (Leone et al 2013). In the highly pruritic cat, the diagnosis was based on finding a sixlegged mite with morphological criteria compatible with S. cynotis in skin scrapings.…”

“…However, the diagnosis was confirmed histopathologically after observing an atypical six‐legged mite from skin scrapings. Asymptomatic cases of trombiculosis were recently reported (Leone et al ). In the highly pruritic cat, the diagnosis was based on finding a six‐legged mite with morphological criteria compatible with S. cynotis in skin scrapings.…”

“…There are many reports of trombiculosis, a dermatitis caused by the bite of larval Trombicula-type mites, in cats, in many countries, including Israel. It is usually intensely pruritic, and is highly and quickly responsive to acaricidal treatment (Greene et al 1986, Takahashi et al 2004, Yager et al 2007, Leone et al 2013, Miller et al 2013. Only one of the two present cats had pruritus, while the other was likely not pruritic as the lesions were incidental findings.…”

In Vivo Observation of Trombiculosis with Fluorescence–Advanced Videodermatoscopy

“…FAV facilitated a real-time diagnosis of trombiculosis in this case. Without this technology, the diagnosis of trombiculosis might have been complicated by the atypical presentation (trombiculosis usually manifests with erythematous homogeneous macules) and seasonality of the case (in Italy, trombiculosis is more prevalent in autumn [7]). To our knowledge, the diagnosis of trombiculosis using videodermatoscopic findings has been reported in only 1 other case (6).…”

“…Only the larvae (0.15–0.3 mm long), which are 6-legged and orange or bright red, are responsible for chigger bites. Infestation usually occurs when larvae are particularly abundant, throughout late summer and autumn ( 7 ). Trombiculid larvae do not burrow into the host’s skin; instead, they use jaw-like structures to attach to hairless areas on the host, secrete digestive enzymes that liquify host epidermal cells, and feed on broken-down tissue and digested cutaneous cells for 2–10 days ( 1 ).…”