A case of diet-related lymphocytic mural folliculitis in a cat

A 5-year-old cat developed a raised hair coat and adherent crusting lesions involving the skin of the head, dorsal neck and abdomen. Erosions were pre sent on the lips and eyelids. The footpads were dry and scaly. Histopatholo gy revealed infiltrative lymphocytic folliculitis, moderate lymphocytic inf iltration into the epidermis and apoptotic epidermal cells. A restricted di et as the only therapy resulted in gradual resolution of the skin lesions. Despite an improvement in the dermatological condition, the cat increasingl y lost all appetite and marked weight loss occurred. The cat died 4 months after presentation. Post-mortem revealed a perforated gastric ulcer and a m ild to moderate inflammatory bowel disease. The clinical course of lesion r esolution in this cat suggested a diet-related pathogenesis. The late findi ng of intestinal disease in a patient with diet-related skin disease is sti ll interesting and needs to be evaluated by further case studies.