[Cheyletiella dermatitis: an uncommon cause of vesiculobullous eruption].

BACKGROUND

Species of Cheyletiella mites are parasites hosted by dogs, cats and rabbits. In humans, they cause a dermatosis not well known by dermatologists. We report a case of an unusual, purely vesiculobullous eruption due to Cheyletiella blakei acquired from an infected cat.

CASE REPORT: A 76-year-old woman presented a very pruritic eruption of vesicles and bullous lesions located on the trunk and external areas of the arms. Biopsy showed dermoepidermal cleavage and polynuclear infiltrate with prominent eosinophils, consistent with the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid. We suspected a Cheyletiella dermatitis due to the aspect and distribution of the elementary lesions and the fact that prior to the eruption the patient had acquired a cat that sometimes slept in her bed. The diagnosis was confirmed by a veterinary examination and isolation of Cheyletiella blakei from the cat's skin. The cat was treated successfully with ivermectin, while the household was disinfected with permethrin. A treatment with benzyl benzoate (Ascabiol) resolved all the patient's symptoms.

DISCUSSION: This case is particularly interesting due to the purely vesiculobullous pattern of the rash and by the difficulty and considerable delay of diagnosis. Patients who have recently acquired a cat or dog before developing a pruritic dermatosis may indeed have cheyletiellosis.