Very small numbers of resident T-lymphocytes are present in the dermis of normal skin of humans, cattle, sheep, dogs, and alpacas. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of lymphocytes, CD3+ cells (T-lymphocyte), and Pax5+ cells (B-lymphocyte) in the dermis of normal cat skin. Skin-biopsy specimens from the normal skin of the dorsolateral thorax from 29 cats were examined immunohistochemically for the presence of CD3+ and Pax5+ cells in the superficial and deep dermis. Two CD3+ lymphocytes were found in the superficial dermis in 1 of 29 cats. B-lymphocytes were not found.

The present study determined the prevalence of dermatophytes 216 private household cats with or without skin lesions, using a culture method. Dermatophytes were detected in three cats (1.4%). The prevalence did not significantly differ according to cutaneous lesion (with or without), age (< 1 year old or ≥ 1 year old), outside activity (positive or negative), or hair condition (short hair or long hair). All of the isolated dermatophytes were identified as Microsporum canis through direct sequencing of amplicons obtained from PCR targeting the chitin synthase 1 gene.