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Feline Atopic Syndrome: Diagnosis

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Abstract

Feline atopic syndrome is an aetiological diagnosis of a disease caused by environmental or dietary allergens. As such there is currently no single test reliably differentiating feline atopic syndrome from its differential diagnoses. This syndrome is associated with a number of clinical reaction patterns such as miliary dermatitis, eosinophilic granuloma, pruritus leading to non-inflammatory alopecia or ulcerative and crusty dermatitis. The diagnosis is confirmed by ruling out all differential diagnoses based on history and clinical examination. Hence, the diagnostic approach is different with the various reaction patterns. As adverse food reaction and flea bite hypersensitivity are differential diagnoses for all these reaction patterns, excellent ectoparasite control and an elimination diet are part of the recommended diagnostic work-up for all cats with suspected feline atopic syndrome. Depending on the clinical findings, other diagnostic tests such as cytology, Wood’s lamp, trichogram, fungal culture or biopsy may be indicated.

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Correspondence to Ralf S. Mueller .

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Mueller, R.S. (2020). Feline Atopic Syndrome: Diagnosis. In: Noli, C., Colombo, S. (eds) Feline Dermatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29836-4_22

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