Pemphigus foliaceus in a feline: Case report

Abstract

Pemphigus foliaceus is the most prevalent autoimmune disorder in the feline species. It develops due to the
production of autoantibodies against desmosomal proteins of the epidermis, generating a process of cellular
uncoupling called acantholysis. The following work describes the case of a feline with pustular-crusted
lesions in which, when performing cytology of the lesions, acantholytic cells were evident. Based on this,
a diagnostic algorithm for pathologies that present with acantholysis was developed and after performing
the pertinent complementary methods and in association with the clinical picture, the diagnosis of
pemphigus foliaceus was determined. The objective of this publication is to demonstrate how, based on
cytological evidence, following an appropriate algorithm, it is possible to diagnose an autoimmune disorder
in a simple, economical and noninvasive way.