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Case Reports
. 2024 May 14;10(1):20551169241246866.
doi: 10.1177/20551169241246866. eCollection 2024 Jan-Jun.

Successful treatment of non-pruritus, excessive hair shedding and scales in a cat due to Demodex gatoi with fluralaner topical spot-on

Thapanee Chuenngam  1 , Suttiwee Chermprapai  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Successful treatment of non-pruritus, excessive hair shedding and scales in a cat due to Demodex gatoi with fluralaner topical spot-on

Thapanee Chuenngam et al. JFMS Open Rep. .

Abstract

Case summary: A 1-year-old female intact Scottish Fold cat was presented with a 1-month history of excessive hair shedding with white scales on the coat without pruritus. The cat lived mostly indoors and had no history of any systemic disease. Dermatological examinations were performed step by step. Several Demodex gatoi were identified from cellophane tape impressions from the scales and examined under a low-power objective (10×) microscope. Skin cytology showed keratinocytes without any microorganisms. Based on the findings, fluralaner (Bravecto for cats; MSD) spot-on was used once every 12 weeks for ectoparasiticidal control. An essential fatty acid supplement was recommended to repair and restore the coat and skin barrier. After 4 weeks of treatment, the cat showed substantial improvement, with a normal coat and no scales. Re-examination using a cellophane tape impression for mites was negative. Ectoparasitic control is highly recommended regularly for the treatment and prevention of ectoparasites.

Relevance and novel information: Feline demodicosis is an uncommon parasitic dermatosis with primary clinical signs that may cause generalised or localised dermatitis with frequent pruritus, erythema and alopecia. The aims of this study were to report on dermatological lesions with excessive hair shedding and scales in a cat that were caused by demodicosis, without presenting the main clinical sign of pruritus or overgrooming. In addition, to the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of the successful treatment of demodicosis due to D gatoi infestation with fluralaner single spot-on in an off-label use that was safe and easy to apply clinically.

Keywords: Demodex gatoi; excessive hair shedding; fluralaner; scales.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Clinical presentation of excessive hair shedding: (a,b) white scales (blue arrowheads) were found on the coat without marked hypotrichosis or alopecia
Figure 2
Figure 2
Light microscopy of scales collected from cellophane tape impression: (a–c) multiple short-bodied mites morphologically consistent with Demodex gatoi at × 100 magnification. (d,e) × 1000 magnification of D gatoi (stained with methylene blue)
Figure 3
Figure 3
After 4 weeks of treatment, the cat showed substantial improvement, with a normal coat without scales
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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