FELINE ACNE AND RESULTS OF TREATMENT WITH MUPIROCIN IN AN OPEN CLINICAL-TRIAL - 25 CASES (1994-96)

Clinical and diagnostic parameters, and response to topical mupirocin in 25 cats with feline acne are described. The chin was the most commo n area affected, but the lower lip, upper lip and the commissure of th e lips also frequently had lesions. The most common clinical sign was the presence of crusts, followed by comedones, erythema, alopecia, pru ritus and nodules/fistulas. Deep skin scrapings for ectoparasites, cyt ological examination of superficial skin scrapings, and fungal culture s from the chin were performed on all cats. Dermatophytes were culture d from two cats and Malassezia pachydermatis was cultured (n = 2), see n on cytology smears (n = 1), or noted on histopathology (n = 1). Skin biopsies were obtained from three of the cats and most commonly showe d dilatation of sebaceous gland ducts, neutrophilic or pyogranulomatou s infiltration of the sebaceous glands, and pyogranulomatous inflammat ion of the dermis. All cats were treated with topical 2% mupirocin oin tment twice daily for 3 weeks as the sole treatment. Treatment respons e was excellent in 15 cats and good in nine cats. One cat had a contac t reaction to the mupirocin, necessitating stopping treatment. The res ponse to treatment of the six cats with dermatophyte or years involvem ent was good (n = 3) or excellent (n = 3).