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ICBAS Instituto de Cincias Biomdicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Largo Prof Abel Salazar,
Porto 4099-003, Portugal
Abstract Eight cases of feline plasma cell pododermatitis, collected over a 3-year period, were studied using
histological (haematoxylin and eosin), histochemical (methyl greenpyronin) and immunohistochemical
(antibody against lambda light chains of immunoglobulins) techniques. No sex, breed or age predisposition,
or paw predilection was observed. The disease began as a swelling of the footpads, followed by ulceration.
Histologically, lesions were characterized by the presence of a large number of plasma cells in a predominantly
perivascular pattern. Binucleated plasma cells and mitotic figures were observed. Clinical follow-up for over
1 year revealed total remission of the lesions both after glucocorticoid therapy in four cases, and total surgical
excision in two animals. Follow-up studies were not possible in one case.
Feline plasma cell pododermatitis is a rare skin disease Biopsies from eight cases of feline plasma cell podo-
of cat footpads. The aetiopathogenesis is unknown, but dermatitis were collected between 1999 and 2001 at
persistent hypergammaglobulinemia, marked plasma the Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology of Instituto
cell tissue infiltrate and the beneficial response to gluco- de Cincias Biomdicas de Abel Salazar, University of
corticoid therapy strongly suggest an immune-mediated Porto. Samples were fixed in 10% formalin, dehydrated,
basis for the disease.14 embedded in paraffin wax and three consecutive sections
Clinically, feline plasma cell pododermatitis begins were cut from each block.
as a soft, nonpainful spongy swelling of multiple foot- One section was stained with haematoxylin & eosin
pads, which in some cases become ulcerated causing (H&E) and the second with methyl greenpyronin, a
haemorrhage and lameness.1,3 In some cats concurrent stain that allows differentiation between DNA and
plasmacytic stomatitis,5 renal amyloidosis or immune- RNA. The methyl green dye binds to DNA, giving it a
mediated glomerulonephritis is reported.6 bluegreen colour, whereas RNA is coloured red with
Histologically, the lesion consists of an intense inflam- pyronin.12 The third section was used for immunohis-
matory infiltrate composed of mature plasma cells with tochemistry, performed according to the modified
prominent Russell bodies, in a predominantly perivas- avidinbiotinperoxidase complex (ABC) method.13
cular pattern.1,4,7 In ulcerated lesions a large number Briefly, sections were dewaxed, rehydrated and then
of neutrophils and macrophages may be present and submitted to proteolytic digestion by immersion in 10%
vasculitis is occasionally seen.5 target retrieval solution (Dako, Denmark) and incubated
In some cases, spontaneous remission of the lesions in a water bath at 100 C for 20 min. Endogenous
occurs, whereas in others there is a seasonal exacerba- peroxidase activity was blocked by treatment with 0.3%
tion of the disease. Feline plasma cell pododermatitis hydrogen peroxide (Merck, Germany) in methanol
responds well to both glucocorticoid therapy and to wide (Merck) for 10 min. Sections were then incubated in a
surgical excision of affected footpads.3,811 moist chamber for 20 min with normal rabbit serum
Here we present a clinical, histopathological and (Dako) diluted 1:5 in bovine serum albumin (BSA;
immunohistochemical study of eight cases of feline Sigma, USA), to eliminate nonspecific staining. Excess
plasma cell pododermatitis. serum was removed and the sections were incubated
overnight at 4 C, with a polyclonal antibody against
lambda light chains of immunoglobulins (clone H0070,
Dako), diluted 1:2. Subsequently, slides were incubated
for 30 min with a 1:200 dilution of biotin-labelled
Correspondence: Augusto M. R. Faustino, ICBAS Instituto de
Cincias Biomdicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto,
antirabbit secondary antibody (Dako) and then with
Largo Prof Abel Salazar, Porto 4099-003, Portugal. E-mail: the avidinbiotinperoxidase complex (Dako), for a
a_faustino@yahoo.com further 30 min. The colour was developed by incubation
RESULTS
Table 1. Clinical details of the cats with plasma cell pododermatitis included in this study
Age Follow-up
Case Sex Breed ( years) Location FIV status Treatment period
1 Entire female DSH 4 Metacarpal R Unknown Not available
Metatarsal R + L Not checked
2 Entire male Siamese 3 Metacarpal R + L Not checked Surgical excision 1 year
3 Entire male DSH Unknown Metacarpal R Positive Prednisolone 1 mg kg1 day PO 4 years
4 Entire male DSH 7 Metacarpal L Not checked Prednisolone 1 mg kg1 day PO 2.5 year
5 Entire male DSH Unknown Metacarpal L Prednisolone 2 mg kg1 day PO 1 year
Metatarsal R Not checked
6 Neutered male DSH 5 Metacarpal R Not checked Surgical excision 1 year
7 Entire female DSH 6 Metatarsal R Not checked Prednisolone 2 mg kg1 day PO 1 year
8 Neutered female Siamese 3 Metacarpal L Not checked Prednisolone 4.4 mg kg 1 day PO 1 year
DSH, Domestic Short Hair; R, right paw; L, left paw; PO, orally.
Figure 3. Plasma cells stained with methyl greenpyronin method, Figure 6. Mitotic figure. H&E (1000).
which stains the cytoplasm red and the nucleus blue. Methyl green
pyronin (400).
periods of over 1 year. Follow-up was not possible in one
case. One cat (case 3) died 4 years after the diagnosis of
feline plasma cell pododermatitis due to renal and
hepatic amyloidosis.
DISCUSSION
The localization of this entity to the footpads may Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
be related to close contact with external stimuli. 1987; 23: 2557.
Nevertheless, the periodic recurrence of the disease and 7. Yager, J.A., Scott, D.W. The skin and appendages. In:
the effectiveness of both medical and surgical treat- Jubb, K.V.F., Kennedy, P.C., Palmer, N., eds. Pathology
of Domestic Animals, 4th edn. San Diego: Academic Press,
ments, suggest that a local immunological dysfunction
1993: 627.
may be the basis of feline plasma cell pododermatitis.
8. Foil, C.S. Facial, pedal, and other regional dermatoses.
Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal
Practice 1995; 25: 92344.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 9. Guaguere, E., Hubert, B., Delabre, C. Feline pododerma-
toses. Veterinary Dermatology 1992; 3: 112.
The authors wish to thank the Clnica Veterinria da 10. Gruffydd-Jones, T.J., Orr, C.M., Lucke, V.M. Foot pad
Areosa, Clnica Veterinria de Custias, Clnica Veter- swelling and ulceration in cats: a report of five cases.
inria de Matosinhos, Vetconde and Policlnica Central Journal of Small Animal Practice 1980; 21: 3819.
de Aveiro for their helpful contribution in collecting 11. Taylor, J.E., Schmeitzel, L.P. Plasma cell pododermatitis
with chronic footpad hemorrhage in two cats. Journal of
data and for the clinical follow-up.
the American Veterinary Medical Association 1990; 197:
3757.
12. Bancroft, J.D., Cook, H.C. Proteins and nucleic acids.
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220 1. antibody and avidinbiotinperoxidase complex in immu-
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findings and response to chrysotherapy. Journal of the 14. Brox, L., Mowles, D., Pollock, B. et al. The DNA content
American Animal Hospital Association 1982; 18: 44951. of human plasma cells. Cancer 1981; 47: 24336.
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skin diseases. Small Animal Dermatology, 5th edn. and multinucleated forms of plasma cells in synovia
Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1995: 906 7. from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology
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of the Dog and Cat. London: Mosby Year Book, 1994: 16. Yeo, J.F. Binucleated form of plasma cells in oral lesions
149 50. their vital statistics. Annals of the Academy of Medicine,
5. Scott, D.W. Feline dermatology 197972: introspective Singapore 1986; 15: 3659.
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Rsum Huit cas de pododermatite plasmocytes fline, vus sur une priode de 3 ans, ont t tudis par examen
histologique (hmatoxylline et osine), histochimique (methyl green-pyronin) et immunohistochimique
(anticorps contre la chaine lambda des immunglobilines). Aucune prdisposition de sexe, de race ou d'ge n'a
t observe. Aucune localisation de prdilection n'a t observe. La maladie a commenc dans tous les cas par
un gonflement des coussinets, suivi par une ulcration. L'examen histopathologique a montr la prsence de
plasmocytes en grand nombre, principalement localiss au niveau privasculaire. Des cellules binucles et des
figures de mitose ont t observes. Un suivi clinique pendant plus d'un an a montr une rmission complte
des lsions aprs traitement glucocorticode (4 cas) ou exrse chirurgicale (2 cas). Le suivi n'a pas t possible
dans un cas.
Resumen Se estudiaron ocho casos de pododermatitis plasmactica felina, recogidos durante un periodo de
tres aos, aplicando tcnicas de histologa, (hematoxilina y eosina), histoqumica (metil verde-pironina) e
inmunohistoqumica (anticuerpos contra cadena ligera lambda de inmunoglobulinas). No se observ predileccin
por sexo, raza, edad, o por una garra en particular. La enfermedad empezaba como una tumefaccin de las almo-
hadillas, seguida de ulceracin. Histolgicamente, las lesiones se caracterizaban por la presencia de un elevado
nmero de clulas plasmticas en un patrn predominantemente perivascular. Se observaron clulas plasmticas
binucleadas y figuras mitticas. El seguimiento clnico durante un ao revel una remisin total de las lesiones
tanto despus de la aplicacin de terapia glucocorticoidea (cuatro casos), como despus de la extirpacin quirrgica
(dos casos). No fue posible el seguimiento en un caso.
Zusammenfassung Acht Flle von ber einen Zeitraum von 3 Jahren gesammelter feliner Plasmazellpododer-
matitis wurden mit histologischen (Hmatoxylin-Eosin-Frbung), histochemischen (Methylgrn-Pyronin-
Frbung) und immunhistochemischen (Antikrper gegen Lambda-L-Ketten von Immunglobulinen) Techniken
untersucht. Es konnte keine Prdisposition hinsichtlich Geschlecht, Rasse, Alter oder Beteiligung der Pfoten
beobachtet werden. Die Erkrankung begann mit Schwellung der Fussballen gefolgt von Ulzerationen. Histologisch
waren die Lsionen durch das Vorhandensein einer grossen Anzahl von Plasmazellen mit einem vorrangig
perivaskulrem Verteilungsmuster charakterisiert. Zweikernige Plasmazellen und Mitosefiguren wurden beo-
bachtet. Klinische Verfolgsuntersuchungen ber den Zeitraum von mehr als einem Jahr zeigten totale Remission
sowohl nach Glukokortikoidtherapie in vier Fllen als auch nach vollstndiger chirurgischer Exzision bei zwei
Tieren. In einem Fall waren Verfolgsuntersuchungen nicht mglich.