Veterinary Dermatology: skin problems in animals: dogs, cats, horses

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		DERMATOLOGY

Biophysical evaluation for mapping of the canine skin
Trans epidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration status and pH were determined in 14 skin regions of five healthy male Beagle dogs (24 years) both before and after anaesthesia. Trans epidermal water loss was highest for the footpad and head and lowest for the inguinal region. Skin hydration status was higher in the ear but did not vary significantly in other regions.

Do cellular blue naevi exist in horses?
Melanocytic tumours are important in horses, especially grey horses. In human medicine, intradermal common melanocytic naevi, cellular blue naevi and combined cellular blue naevi are desscribed as subgroups of melanocytic tumours. In equine medicine these tumours have not been reported. But does this really mean that they do not exist?

New insights in the pathogenesis of equine sarcoids
The equine sarcoid is the most common dermatologic neoplasm reported in horses. Bovine papillomavirus (BPV) types 1 and 2 are associated with sarcoids, in which the expression of the major transforming oncoprotein (E5) is often recorded. The transformation activity of the virus is due to the binding of the E5 to the platelet-derived growth factor â receptor (PDGFâ-r). This fascinating little study offers more insights in the pathogenesis and thus hopefully leads to better therapeutic options in the future...

Bandaging and second intention wound healing in horses with distal limb wounds
Wounds on the distal limbs of horses often tend to secondary infections, delayed healing or healing with excessive granulation tissue. Bandaging has always been strongly recommended even of small wounds in this area. Is this still true and what kind of bandage should be used? A very interesting Australian study on 33 adult horses with untreated wounds which were treated with a non-occlusive dressing incorporated in a 3-layer bandage.

Multinodular pulmonary fibrosis in horses due to Herpes infection
Pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease are poorly understood in horses; the causes of such conditions are rarely identified. Equine herpesvirus 5 (EHV-5) is a -herpesvirus of horses that has not been associated with disease in horses - at least before this evaluation was published...

Topical treatment of equine cannon hyperkeratosis
If skin lesions are recognized in a pet, many owners tend to treat them topically, often with topical ointments or cremes made for men. This interesting little study compares four topical preparations to treat quadrilateral cannon hyperkeratosis. The results can help veterinarians to recommend the most effective preparation which can be applied topically by the owners lateron.

Masitinib in canine mast cell tumors
Mast cell tumors belong to the most common cutaneous neoplasias in dogs. Due to their variable clinical behaviour the selection of the adequate therapy can become difficult, and some of the therapies described are either ineffective or have a high rate of side effects. Is masitinib, a potent and selective inhibitor of the KIT receptor, a possible way? The activation of the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase is associated with the development of canine mast cell tumors (MCT). A fascinating therapeutic option used in more than 200 dogs!

Low dose cyclosporin plus ketoconazole in canine perianal fistulas
Perianal fistulas are quite common, especially in large dogs like German shepherds and their crosses. The oral therapy with cycloporin A is effective but expensive. So the combination with other substances using the same pathway for metabolisation has been tried to allow the use of lower doses of cyclosporin. Can the combination of cyclosporin A and ketoconazole be recommended?

Multinodular pulmonary fibrosis in horses due to Herpesvirus infection
Pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease are poorly understood in horses; the causes of such conditions are rarely identified. Equine herpesvirus 5 (EHV-5) is a -herpesvirus of horses that has not been associated with disease in horses. Is it responsible for this type of pulmonary fibrosis?

Allergen threshold concentrations in equine intradermal testing
Aeroallergies with special manifestations like `sweet itch` or COPD are common problems in horses. Like in dogs, cats and men the diagnosis often is difficult, especially in vitro testings can be dissappointing. This very interesting study evaluates the reactivity to intradermally injected aqueous allergens to determine allergen threshold concentrations (TC), with potential relevance to equine intradermal testing (IDT) - on healthy horses!

Ultrasound-guided removal of superficial plant awns
Especially in fall, plant awns cause problems in a number of dogs. They often cause a foreign body granuloma or abscess, and their surgical removal can become a real challenge. If the foreign body cannot be localized and completely retrieved, recurrence of the abscess is likely. Ultrasound-guided removal sounds very effective and promising!

Correlation between parasite load in facial skin and tributary lymph nodes in Leishmaniasis
Infections with Leishmania spp. remain a serious problem not only in endemic areas of the world. This study from Brazil evaluates the correlation of the parasite load in the skin of the nose and the pinna and in cervical, mandibular, and parotid lymph nodes from dogs infected with Leishmania infantum by histologic and immunohistochemical studies. Very interesting!

Program for global eradication of foot-and-mouth-disease
Vaccinations against foot-and-mouth-disease, one of the most contagious diseases of ruminates, have been stopped in several countries many years ago. Still this disease remains far away from eradication and causes severe economical losses worldwide. This program should help to eradicate the disease worldwide...

Quantification of lumpy skin disease virus after experimental infection
Lumpy skin disease along with sheep pox and goatpox are the most serious poxvirus diseases of livestock, and are caused by viruses that belong to the genus Capripoxvirus within the subfamily Chordopoxvirinae, family Poxviridae. In this study, animals were infected experimentally to facilitate the study of the pathogenesis of this disease...

Laser surgery in canine interdigital cysts and comedones
Interdigital dermatitis and nodules are common problems in dogs, especially in short coated breeds. Often they lead to chronic changes resulting in recurrent lameness, pain and draining tracts. The treatment can be very frustrating. Is the carbon dioxide laser a good additional therapeutic option?

Gene transcription in canine atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is a disease showing familiar and breed predispositions implicating a genetic base. This interesting study identified genes potentially involved in the pathology of canine atopic dermatitis (AD) using gene expression microarrays.

Idiopathic papillomas of the penile mucosa
A new papillomatous clinical entity is described affecting the penile mucosa of dogs in Italy. 11 male dogs of different breeds between 6 and 13 years were presented with the same history: a genital mass and occasional haematuria.

Update of the aetiology of canine otitis externa
Otitis externa is one of the most common reasons to present a dog to a veterinarian. Often the problem is chronic or chronic-relapsing. Much is published about primary diseases. This interesting retrospective study including 100 cases gives some interesting new information.

0.4% topical stannous fluoride gel for bacterial skin infections in horses
Topical therapy is an area of increasing interest in both veterinary and human medicine. In small animals, antibacterial shampoos are commonly used to treat bacterial skin infections. In horses this is much more difficult. Is the application of an antibacterial gel an alternative in this species? A very informative clinical investigation!

0.1% tacrolimus ointment (Protopic�) in canine atopic dermatitis
Calcineurin inhibitors have become popular in samll animal medicine. Especially in dogs there are lots of reports about the efficacy of ciclosporin A especially in atopic dermatitis. What about the topical calcineurin inhibitors like tacrolimus? A well-designed study gives informations about both clinical efficacy and safety.

Suppurative facial cellulitis and panniculitis caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis
Large and necrotizing face wounds resulting from trauma - not too common but potentially life-threatening, especially if they are caused by bacteria like Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. This report from Colorado gives important therapeutic advises...

In vitro model of Microsporum canis dermatophytosis
Microsporum canis is a pathogenic fungus that causes a superficial cutaneous infection called dermatophytosis. The complexity of mechanisms involved in dermatophytic infections makes relevant in vivo studies particularly difficult to perform. At the University of Lüttich a group has developed an in vitro model of M. canis dermatophytosis using feline fetal keratinocytes in reconstructed interfollicular epidermis.

Latent viral phase in horses with sarcoids?
Still sarocids are one of the most common reasons for euthanasia in horses and still they remain common and very specials neoplasias. In this very exciting case report, the colleagues from Davis, California, detected bovine papillomavirus type 1 or 2 not only in all sarcoids they examined, they also found them in clinically appearing normal skin from horses with sarcoids. What does this mean?

Misuse of statistics in veterinary dermatology
A very interesting article has been published some time ago: It deals with frequency of inappropriate presentation and analysis methods of ordered categorical data in the recent veterinary dermatology literature and includes a total of 62 published (!) articles...

Subcutaneous abscess with severe complications due to Clostridium perfringens
A very interesting case report, starting with a problem which is familiar to every veterinarian: a subcutaneous abscess. But the causative organism and the complications occuring although the dog was treated lege artis are very informative!

Papillomaviral sequences in feline Bowenoid in situ carcinoma
Feline Bowenoid in situ carcinoma (BISC) is a rare disease that presents as multiple discrete plaques of epidermal hyperplasia and dysplasia. For a long time it was assumed that papillomavirus might play a role in this disease. Now it has been proven by using consensus primers - and even more the virus isolated is closely related to human papillomvirus. A very informative publication from New Zealand!

Dermatitis due to Dermanyssus gallinae in a horse
A very unusual and the first documented case report of dermatitis associated with the poultry mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) in a horse - 16 years old and in contact with domestic hens. Very interesting!

Intraepidermal adenocarcinoma in the perianal skin of two cats
In humans, mammary and extramammary Paget`s disease is an uncommon to rare manifestation of intraepidermal adenocarcinoma arising from simple epithelium, usually glandular in origin. This report describes two cats with lesions in perianal skin consisting of atypical intraepidermal neoplastic cells. Very unusual and to the authors knowledge the first report of an intraepidermal adenocarcinoma in a cat or other animal species...

Generalized alopecic and cystic dermatosis in a cat (case report)
A progressive, initially nonpruritic alopecia and malodorous greasy exudate affecting the distal extremities, trunk and neck but sparing the head and tail in a cat, starting with 6 months of age. An endocrinopathy? A generalized demodicosis? Malassezia dermatitis? Or a hereditary disorder? A fascinating case report!

Proliferative and necrotizing otitis externa in cats
A proliferative otitis externa is a common problem in dogs, especially in certain breeds like spaniels. A proliferative and necrotizing feline otitis externa is a rare disorder of unknown aetiology. The clinical signs are really impressive, and maybe the disease is more common than previously thought...

Malassezia overgrowth in allergic cats
Malassezia are a common secondary problem in dogs but not so much in cats. This very interesting study shows that this organism is underestimated in this species...

Cutaneous reactive histiocytosis in dogs
A very interesting brandnew study regarding one of the most fascinating diseases of young adult dogs, cutaneous reactive histiocytosis. There are also important new insights regarding prognosis and therapy.

Skin fragility syndrome associated with FIP (case report)
Everything is possible in cats with FIP, an old rule of thumb says. Also a skin fragility syndrome, this unique and rare disease in cats? Even if the association between these two findings remains unclear, the case report is extremely informative.

Multiple cutaneous ganglioneuromas in a Labrador retriever (case report)
Multifocal small cutaneous nodules were the problem this young dog was presented with. The histopathology of excised tumours was surprising, revealing a neoplasia which was described in humans but not in dogs.

Reconstruction of the lower eyelid in cats with squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma of the eyelids are not too rare in cats with non-pigmented eyelids. Whereas similar regions on the ear flaps can be treated with radical surgery or on the nasal planum can be treated with radiotherapy, the eyelid is a very special area. This novel technique for blepharoplasty allows to cover a tissue defect involving >/=50% of the lower eyelid - and sounds very promising.

Transposition of first digital pad for reconstruction of a soft tissue defect (case report)
Surgery of malignant tumors on legs, especially near carpal or tarsal joints, can be a challenge for the surgeon: If the correct wide margins are made, skin graft or flaps are mandatory to close the tissue defect. Sometimes the surgeon also needs a bit phantasy, as this very impressive case report from the UK shows!

Advances in mast cell tumour diagnosis and therapy
Mast cell tumours are one of the most common tumours of the canine skin and have a reputation for being difficult to manage because of their variable clinical presentation, behaviour and response to treatment. The stem cell factor receptor KIT seems to play a central role in the aetiology, as recent studies showed - which might offer new therapeutic options in the future.

Facial staphylococcal-associated dermatitis in sheep
A severe and nonpruritic skin disease affecting the face and being associated with sucking flies -this sounds very dramatic. But the treatment was both easy and effective, as this interesting report from Greece illustrates.

Pyotraumatic dermatitis - new insights
Especially in summer time many cases of pyotraumatic dermatitis (hot spot) are seen in veterinary practices. Although it is a common diseases there are few prospective scientific studies related to it. This study gives some very surprising new informations, e.g. that male dogs were overrepresented!

Sugars in surface microbe-host interactions
Sugars are the molecules most commonly involved in cell recognition and communication. In skin, they are essential to epidermal development and play important roles in microbial adherence, colonization and biofilm formation, and in virulence. Knowing this, there might be an additional treatment option for bacterial skin infections, a very common problem in various diseases of dogs.

Six organic diseases mimicking acral lick dermatitis
Acral lick dermatitis is a common problem especially in large and sensitive dogs. Often it is thought to be of psychogenic origin. But always organic diseases should be excluded before the animals are treated with psychopharmaka, as this publication from one of the most famous dermatologists illustrates...

First artificial living skin graft produced
The british Intercytex Group plc, the cell therapy company focused on aesthetic medicine and tissue repair, announces a clinical breakthrough in regenerative medicine following the conclusion of a clinical trial in which laboratory-made living human skin has been fully and consistently integrated into the human body for the first time.

Imidacloprid/moxidectin combination against naturally acquired canine scabies
Scabies (sarcoptic mange) is a common and highly pruritic disease in dogs which often is misdiagnosed as an allergy. Some therapies are very efficious but not licensed in dogs. Is the licensed and very comfortable therapy with an imidacloprid plus moxidectin spot-on formulation both licensed and efficious?

Low-dose specific immunotherapy in dogs with atopic dermatitis
Allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) is an effective therapeutic option in canine atopic dermatitis. There are anecdotal reports of increased effectiveness of ASIT in dogs with doses of vaccine lower than that recommended by the manufacturers. However, no controlled studies have been carried out before...

New insights in equine anhidrosis
Anhidrosis is a rare but potentially life-threatening problem in horses. The causal factors of equine anhidrosis have not yet been elucidated but defective electrolyte transport mechanisms in the gland are likely to be involved. This possibility was evaluated in a very interesting study which has been published recently.

Congenital lipoblastoma in a neonate calf
Lipoblastoma is a rare benign tumour of adipose tissue that usually occurs in young children. Although around 100 cases of lipoblastoma have been reported in humans, no report has been previously described in animals - until now!

Raccoonpox infection in a cat in Canada (case report)
Poxvirus infections affecting the skin of cats are extremely rare in North America, in contrast to Europe where cowpox virus is well recognized as an accidental pathogen in cats that hunt small rodents. The virus or viruses responsible for the anecdotal cases in North America have never been characterized. In this case report, it has been identified...

Selamectin against Psoroptes and Sarcoptes mites in rabbits
The sarcoptiform mites Psoroptes and Sarcoptes can cause severe pruritus and economic losses in rabbits. Macrocyclic lactones are known to be highly effective in those mites in other species. Is selamectin spot on not only a comfortable but also an effective choice? It is, as this study from Turkey shows.

Canine pyoderma caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection
It is well known that the vast majority of the bacterial skin infections is caused by Staphylococcus intermedius, and if there is immunosuppression or the infection goes deeper other organisms like small rods add to the problem. This interesting publication describes another and new problem: an infection which is only due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, without S. intermedius. Very interesting!

Raccoonpox infection in a cat (case report)
Poxvirus infections affecting the skin of cats are extremely rare in North America, in contrast to Europe where cowpox virus is well recognized as an accidental pathogen in cats that hunt small rodents, especially mice. Most of them recover completely. What happens if the pathogen is a raccoonpox virus?

Alopecia and dermatopathy after pelvic fractures
Pelvic fractures are commonly seen after car accidents and often need surgical repair. But it is rather unknown that damage to blood vessels can also lead to skin changes which are not visible immediately after the trauma. A colleague from Gent has collected three of these cats. A very informative case report!

Ciprofloxacin instead of enrofloxacin in disk diffusion susceptibility test (DDT)?
Ciprofloxacin is one of the metabolites of enrofloxacin and is used as antibiotic in human medicine. Can it be used to to assess the in vitro susceptibility of otic bacterial organisms to enrofloxacin and to determine the effect of concurrent enrofloxacin administration on the DDT results for enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin? A very interesting question!

Objective measurement of pruritus in dogs
Pruritus is one of the most common and less objective complaints of the owners. Many years lots of effort was taken to create a system that makes the degree of pruritus `objective`. It seems that at the University of Liverpool such a system could be developed.

Regional differences in the drug penetration through equine skin
A very interesting new study showing that at least hydrocortisone penetrates the equine skin differently, depending from the location - if the same is proven in in vivo studies this new insights may change topical therapies...

Mast cells and angiogenesis in canine melanomas - prognostic factors
Mast cells are commonly found in canine melanomas, and their biological significance is not clear. But since melanomas belong to the most malignant canine neoplasias, it should be cleared what mast cells do and if they are of prognostic significance for the patient. A very interesting study from Zimbabwe gives new insights!

Home-made versus chicken hydrolysate diet in dogs with adverse food reactions
Adverse food reactions in dogs can be very hard to diagnose - there are immunological and non-immunological reactions, and still the home-made diet consisting of one protein and one carbohydrate followed by allergen-challenge is thought to be the `gold-standard` in diagnosing the disease. In this new study, a high number of affected dogs was treated either with home-made diet or with chicken hydrolysate diet. And the results are very interesting.

Imiquimod 5% cream in equine sarcoids
Imiquimod is an immune response modifier with potent antiviral and antitumour activity. Over the last years, it has been used in several indications in small animals, e.g. in squamous cell carcinomas of cats and in papillomas in dogs. Is it also an option in equine sarcoids, still one of the most common reasons to euthanize horses? This pilot study has very promising results!

Plant extracts in the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis
Lots of antipruritic therapies have been tried and described over the last decades to treat atopic dermatitis in dogs. Here is a new multicentric study on more than 100 dogs that have been treated with PYM00217, a proprietary blend of plant extracts - with surprising results!

Feline cutaneous mycobacteriosis - which subtypes are the most common?
Mycobacteriosis in cats is not too common in Germany, but it´s sometimes diagnosed and surely in some cases overlooked. In this new study from Canada the most common species are identified. The result: mycobacteriosis in cats is a syndrome, not a disease!!

Equine Culicoides Hypersensitivity: Update of tests
Equine Culicoides Hypersensitivity still remains one of the most important (skin) diseases in horses, affecting many breeds in various countries. Still there are controversies in the diagnosis. How reliable are serum tests, and are intradermal skin tests really superior to them? An interesting brandnew study from Italy!

News from the external ear canal of horses
A lot of publications concerning the ear canal and otitis in dogs and cats exist, but less is known about otoscopy, cytology and microbia in the ear canal of horses. A very informative summary for everybody treating horses!

Recombinant canine interferon-alpha (KT-100) versus antihistamines in atopic dogs
Various treatments are described in canine atopic dermatitis. Is the innovative therapy with recombinant interferon-gamma an alternative to diphenhydramine, one of the most popular antihistamines? A very interesting study from Japan.

Zygomatic salivary cyst with mucocele in a cat
Cysts of the salivary glands are sometimes seen in dogs but very rare in cats. In this species a fluctuating swelling under the eye has a lot of other more likely differential diagnoses. A very interesting case report!

Long-term results of immunosuppressive therapy in canine pemphigus foliaceus
Pemphigus foliaceus is one of the most common autoimmune diseases in dogs, leading to autoantibodies to desmoglein I and finally to pustule and crust formation. Immunosuppressive therapy is mandatory in this disease - but does it always have to be given for the rest of the life? An interesting, rarely discussed question!

Feline acne - an update
Feline acne is one of the skin problems which is easy to diagnose but might be hard to control. In this very interesting new study the clinical, cytological, microbial and histopathological features of feline acne were investigated in 22 cats referred or volunteered to a veterinary dermatology practice in the south-west region of the USA. With very interesting new results!

Results of vulvoplasty in 34 dogs with recessed vulva
A common problem especially in large and obese dogs: a recessed vulva causing problems like intertrigo, chronic urinary tract infections, pollakisuria etc. Not all owners accept to clean the area one to several times a day. Are they satisfied with the results when they decided to have vulvoplasty done? The majority (82 %) in this retrospective study is...

Osteolytic osteomyelitis in a dog with visceral leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis can mimic nearly every cutaneous or extracutaneous disease, as everybody knows. Here is a very fascinating case report from Brazil where the affected dog showed weight loss and lameness of a hindleg - not very specific for any disease...

Immunolocalization of aquaporin-5 expression in sweat gland cells of horses
Horses sweat for thermoregulation, as everybody knows. But where is the aquaporin 5 localized in the sweat gland, and which differences exist between `normal` and anhydrotic horses? An interesting recently published study...

Canine dermatitis due to Straelensia cynotis (case report)
`Ivermectine kills everything` was a popular slogan some years ago. This dog from Portugal, suffering from a highly pruritic dermatitis with numerous larval mites in the hair follicles unfortunately did not respond well to this drug - in opposite to other highly pruritic mites like Sarcoptes scabiei.

Disciplines

Encephalitozoon hellem infection causing an unilateral chronic keratoconjunctivitis in an umbrella
Cockatoos are popular pets and they sometimes show strange symptoms. As this animal whose unilateral keratoconjuctivitis did not respond to various treatments and was caused by a microbium the most veterinarians only associate with rabbits...

Efficacy and safety of cyclosporin in dogs with atopic dermatitis
Cyclosporin A has been introduced in veterinary medicine years ago. Because of severe potential side effects in men, the drug has already undergone a lot of evaluations in dogs. Here is a very interesting new study focussing on the use of Cyclosporin A in dogs with atopic dermatitis, the favorite indication for this substance!

Colorectal plasmocytomas - how do they behave?
Colorectal plasmocytomas are uncommon neoplasias. But when they occur, it is impotant to know how to treat them best: Just wait and see? Do a normal resection or a resection with wide margins which is very difficult in this region? A very informative recently published study.

Therapy-refractory pododermatitis - a novel disease?
Chronic pododermatitis with no detectable underlying disease - the nightmare of every dermatologist. Maybe we are dealing with a new disease which should be called immunomodulatory-responsive lymphocytic-plasmacytic pododermatitis and is accompanied by changes of serum immunoglobulines. A very fascinating and useful study!

Pustular calicivirus dermatitis on the abdomen of two cats after routine ovariectomy
Calicivirus infections in cats are well-known to every small animal practitioner. Normally they affect the upper respiratory tract. But these two cats showed a very unusual manifestation of a calicivirus-induced dermatitis: the abdomen, after routine ovariectomy. An extremely interesting case report from Belgium!

Selamectin against Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Dermacentor variabilis
Every spring dog owners ask for tick prevention because they want to protect their pet from the various tick-borne diseases. Which product do you recommend, and which product can be recommended? This article looks at the efficacy of selamectin against certain tick infestations in a number of studies.

Oral doxycycline, niacinamide and prednisolone in bilateral nodular granulomatous conjunctivitis
The combination of doxycycline and niacinamide is commonly used to treat certain autoimmune or immune mediated skin problems in dogs. But obviously it can also be very helpful to treat ocular diseases like a nodular granulomatous conjunctivitis of the third eyelid. A very interesting case report from Australia.

Atopy patch test reactions in high-IgE beagles
Intradermal skin test was thought to be the `gold standard` in identifying the causing allergens in dogs with atopic dermatitis. Like in human medicine, also diagnostic trials with patch tests in dogs are published from time to time. How are the results of this test with different sources and concentrations of house dust mites? A very interesting question!

Topical eprinomectin in the treatment of Psoroptes cuniculi
Macrocyclic lactones are thought to be the most effective weapons against Psoroptes cuniculi and related mites. Various protocols for the use of ivermectin, doramectin etc. exist. Is the eprinomectin spot-on for cattle which is so easy to administer equally effective? It does not seem so...

Exfoliative toxins from Staphylococcus hyicus
Exudative epidermitis (EE) is an acute, often fatal skin disease of piglets caused by toxins produced by Staphylococcus hyicus. Clinical and histopathological manifestations of EE are similar to those of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) in humans.

S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAMe) as antidote in acetaminophen toxicity
Intoxications are commonly seen in the emergency care units, and mostly young dogs are affected. Not always are antidots available. This interesting case report documents that S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAMe) is an effective therapeutic option in acetaminophen toxicity.

Itraconazole pulse therapy in dogs with malassezia dermatitis
Azoles are proven to be very effective in the therapy of malassezia dermatitis in dogs. The `classic` azole for this indication is ketoconazole which is given one to three times a day. Is itraconazole pulse therapy a good alternative as it is in feline and human dermatophytosis? An interesting study presented at the 20th Annual Congess of the European Society of Veterinary Dermatology in Chalkidiki!

Prevalence of house dust mite-antigen in houses with and without dogs
A very interesting study with surprising results! House dust mite allergens, which are described as the most common allergens in dogs and men with atopy, are found in living rooms in high concentrations - not surprising. But their concentration is significantly higher in the households without dogs - really surprising. Is flea prevention the explanation for this?

Skin myxoma in a dog (case report)
An extremely rare neoplasia in dogs! This very interesting case report describes a terrier from Iran which was presented with a large mass on a hindleg without any systemic signs. Surgical removal was curative.

Bilateral ear canal neoplasia in dogs
A common problem in dogs: proliferative changes of the ear canal which represent the final stage of a chronic otitis. But although this is by far the most common reason, other differentials like neoplasia also need to be considered. They can occur bilaterally, as this interesting case report shows!

Doramectin against scabies in rabbits
Doramectin, ivermectin and moxidectin are known to be effective against Sarcoptic mange in dogs. Moxidectin was described to be only partial effective in rabbits which is rather surprising. In this study, doramectin is chosen to treat scabies infestation in the very sensitive Angora rabbits. It works!

Intermediate steroid hormone levels in dogs with Alopecia X
Alopecia X remains a skin disease with an unclear pathogenesis. Evaluation of several hormon blood levels have been not very diagnostic in the past. This interesting study compares the interemdiate steroid levels before and during different therapies.

Skin metastases of a bronchial adenocarcinoma in a cat (case report)
Skin metastases of adenocarcinomas are sometimes seen in dogs, most often deriving from a primary mammary adenocarcinoma. This description of a metastatic bronchial adenocarcinoma in a cat is very interesting and seems to be unique. Or do some of our miliary dermatitis cats have skin tumours?

Zinc-responsive probably hereditary dermatosis in goats
Two extremely interesting cases have been described an the University of Vienna: two goats with a zinc-responsive dermatosis which is suggestive of hereditary malabsorption. This syndrome is well known in certain dog breeds like Sibirean Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes. May be it also exists in other species...

Leishmania spp. and Mycobacterium spp. in canine cutaneous `sterile` pyogranuloma/granuloma syndrome
Cutaneous `sterile` pyogranuloma/granuloma syndrome (SPGS) is an uncommon canine skin disorder of unknown aetiopathogenesis - ofting leading to chronic or chronic-relapsing problems and frustrating both owners and veterinarians. Did you ever think about Leishmania or Mycobacterium as a causing agent? A fascinating idea at least in endemic regions!

Manifestations of exfoliative cutaneous lupus erythematosus in German short-haired pointers
Exfoliative cutaneous lupus erythematosus is an uncommon generalized exfoliative dermatitis occurring exclusively in German short-haired pointers. The disease might be underdiagnosed even by veterinary dermatologists. This excellent summary characterized the findings of 25 affected dogs.

Different serum immunoreactivity to Malassezia pachydermatis in dogs
Canine sera which are tested with Malassezia extract often show different results. Why? One explanation might be that there is variation in antigenic expression in different growth phases of M. pachydermatis. A very interesting new study!

Immunostimulatory liposome-nucleic acid complexes in allergen-specific immunotherapy of dogs with AD
Specific immunotherapy is known to be an effective and safe therapy in canine atopic dermatitis. Its efficacy is described up to 77 percent. But what happens with the `non-responders`? Is this new type of immunotherapy a promising option? A very interesting pilot study which also has been presented as a short communication on the World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology in Vienna last year.

Hereditary regional dermal asthenia in three Brazilian Quarter horses
Dermal asthenia is described in several species and is known to be a congenital dysplasia of the connective tissue. Diagnosis is not too difficult if one deals with a generalized problem. But what if the problem is only regional? A very interesting study on three related Quarter horses, focussing on clinical and histopathological findings!

Terbinafine versus ketoconazole in canine malassezia dermatitis
Azoles and especially ketoconazole have become the drugs of choice in the therapy of malassezia dermatitis in dogs. Terbinafine is a antimycotic drug which is well tolerated and safe and has been used very successful in canine dermatophytosis. Is it also a good option to treat yeasts?

Are human and canine staphylococci species specific?
It seems so - staphylococcus intermedius is by far the most common isolated bacterium in canine pyoderma whereas staphylococcus aureus is the human `counterpart`. Is there really a species specificity in the adherence to human and canine skin? A very interesting study from Scotland!

Castration and gestagen therapies in male dogs
Every veterinarian knows that certain diseases and behavioural problems in intact male dogs are common, e.g. perineal hernia, benign prostatic hyperplasia, anal adenoma, testicular neoplasms and sex-hormone dermatoses. In this excellent paper, a review of the literature regarding castration, progestagen treatment and the most common side effects is performed. One result: there are alternatives to castration!

Heat shock proteins expression in canine skin tumors
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are strongly implicated in the control of cell growth, differentiation and biological behaviour of many human cutaneous neoplasms. Less is known about them in veterinary medicine. Are they useful in differentiation of different skin tumors, like intracutaneous cornifying epithelioma and squamous cell carcinoma? A new and interesting study from Italy.

Role of IgE in equine urticaria
Compared with other species, urticaria is a common phenomenon in horses. But we know only a few about the pathogenesis. This brand new publication from Switzerland suggests that IgE might play an important role in the pathogenesis - after the histopathological examination of skin biopsies and special staining.

Acral mutilation and analgesia in French spaniels
An acral mutilation syndrome has been described as an hereditary disease in German short-haired pointers. But also French spaniels can suffer from a similar diseaase that has been described now for the first time...

Cutaneous neosporosis in a dog with pemphigus foliaceus
Pemphigus foliaceus is one of the most common autoimmune diseases in dogs. Its therapy consists of immunosuppressive drugs, the therapy of choice is the combination of prednisolone and azathioprine. It is well known that this therapy can also reduce the cutaneous immune systeme and favour infections with dermatophytes. But also with organisms like neospora, at least in certain climates, as this case report from Spain documents.

Intravenous fluorescein in intradermal allergy testing in birds
Intradermal skin tests are a standard procedure to identify causing allergens in various species. In some species like cats positive results can be hard to see and so studies were undertaken to decrease this problem by the i.v. injection of fluorescein. In birds, the whole thing is even more difficult, and intradermal tests are said to be unreliable. Does fluorescein give better results?

Prevalence of house dust mite allergens in the UK
The United Kingdom is known to be a very special part of Europe. Also the prevalence of Der f 1 antigen in british households differs from `Continental Europe`, as this interesting brandnew article shows!

Adult-onset hair loss in Chesapeake Bay retrievers
Golden and Labrador Retrievers are very popular in Germany, but Chesapeake Bay retrievers are only seen occasionally. But if they show hairloss which is started in adult age, certain differential diagnoses are good to know. For example hair loss in young adults due to abnormal steroid production...

Efficacy of various therapies in canine atopic dermatitis
Various therapies are used in dogs suffering from atopic dermatitis. It is extremely difficult to give exact informations how effective each one of them is. This large study includes the data of all clinical trials of more than 20 years and lists various popular therapies and their efficacy. Very interesting!

Do eczema drugs increase the risk of cancer?
Tacrolimus (Protopic) and Pimecrolimus (Elidel) have become popular drugs to treat atopic eczema in humans, especially in children, and they are more and more used in certain skin disorders like DLE and atopic dermatitis in animals. Do they increase the risk to develop cancer like lymphomas? The FDA gave an official press release yesterday...

Cutaneous microflora in horses with and without skin diseases
The cutaneous microflora of dogs without skin problems, dogs with seborrhoic diseases or allergic dermatoses is well evaluated. Surprisingly, less is known about the equine cutaneous microflora. This brandnew study from Cornell University gives some interesting new insights: For example, equine hyperkeratotic skin is significantly associated with an increased number of surface bacteria.

Topical pimecrolimus in canine KCS
Keratoconjuctivitis sicca (KCS) is a common eye disease in certain breeds. The most popular current therapy consists is the application of a topical cyclosporin A-preparation. In dermatology, other cyclosporin-relatives like tacrolimus or pimecrolimus are used topically for months or even years with good results. Is pimecrolimus also a new alternative in the eye?

Immunohistochemistry in dogs with VKH-like syndrome
Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH)-like syndrome or uveodermatological syndrome (UVD) occurs in certain breeds and is characterized by a severe autoaggression directed against melanocytes. This brandnew study of tissues of 2 dogs shows very interesting news - the cell response of eye and skin is different which might explain the clinical difference in the level of inflammation!

Only every fifth dog had known tick exposure
This is one of the interesting results of this large retrospective study about infections with Rickettsia rickettsii, known as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Also the very pleomorph clinical signs are described. Good news: the survival rate in this study was 100 percent!

Clindamycin once daily in canine pyoderma
The treatment of canine pyoderma with `staphylococcal-effective` antibiotics can become very expensive, especially if large dogs need to be treated over weeks. Is clindamycin given only once daily an effective therapeutic option? Might be!

Pyotraumatic dermatitis: new insights in histopathology
Pyotraumatic dermatitis (hot spot) is a common clinical syndrome in dogs but there are few prospective scientific studies related to it. It is easy to diagnose and to treat and so almost never skin biopsies for histopathology are taken. But if this is done, surprising results occur, as this brandnew study demonstrates.

Bacteria isolates from skin and ears over 6 years
Staphylococcus intermedius is by far the most common bacteria isolated in superficial pyoderma, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is commonly involved in ear infections. Did their frequency change over the years, and did their antibacterial resistance change. Very important questions for adequate therapy- One of the results of this retrospective study: Psueudomonas ear infections are raising, and one should always do antibiogramms when Pseudomonas aeruginosa is isolated.

`Food allergens` of lamb, beef and cow�s milk identified?
Adverse cutaneous reactions to food ingredients are sometimes seen in dogs and cats and can be difficult to identify. In this interesting recently published study from Spain the proteins responsible for cutaneous adverse reactions to these foods are identified, as the authors say...

Seasonal insect bite hypersensitivity in sheep
Dermatitis due to hypersensitivity to certain insects like the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis felis or to midges like Culicoides are well described in small animals and in horses. But why should sheep not show allergies to these insects? This brandnew study from Israel suggests that these reactions might be underestimated!

Do we use the wrong allergen concentrations for intradermal skin testing?
Intradermal skin test (IDT) is thought to be the gold standard to identify the causing allergens in canine atopic dermatitis. But are the allergen concentrations we use adequate? A substantial question, and the result of this recently published study says: most of our histamine and allergen concentrations are not optimal!

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis outbreak causes skin lesions and mastitis
Mastitis is a well-known sign for a corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection. But this very interesting article from Israel describes a corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis outbreak in a dairy cattle herd causing both ulcerative granulomatous skin lesions and mastitis.

Aseptic preparation of the skin before arthrocentesis in horses
Is it necessary to change the aseptic preparation in horses coming from `dirty` environments, and which preparation can be recommended? These questions are central in this recently published study dealing with the presurgical preparation of the distal interphalangeal joint for arthrocentesis.

Prednisone or prednisolone in the feline patient?
Over many years, prednisone and prednisolone given to both dogs and cats were believed to be absolutely the same regarding bioavailability, effect and tolerance. But is this really true? This question was raised by an American study group and evaluated carefully. The surprising result: oral prednisolone is the superior choice for cats!

Superficial necrolytic dermatitis in a cat: diagnostic findings (case report)
Superficial necrolytic dermatitis (hepatocutaneous syndrome) is diagnosed sometimes in older dogs and rarely in cats. It is characterized by both severe alterations of the liver (neoplasia, cirrhosis etc.) and by severe crusty skin lesions especially of the footpads and the mucocutaneous junctions in dogs. The skin lesions in this cat were completely different: it showed a pruritic alopecia.

Steroid sparing effect of essential fatty acid supplementation
A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled multicentre clinical trial of 12 weeks duration was undertaken in 60 dogs with atopic dermatitis to evaluate the steroid sparing effect of essential fatty acid supplementation.

Patch tests with house dust mite antigen in dogs
Patch tests are routinely performed in men in the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis. For several reasons, they are not very popular in canine dermatology. This interesting study describes the results of patch tests with house dust mite antigen in 13 dogs with atopic dermatitis. One of the results: These mites penetrate the skin of the allergic animals and induce an inflammatory response...

Intradermal or allergen-specific IgE tests in seasonal atopic dermatitis?
For many years, intradermal skin tests were and are believed to be the `gold standard` to identify the causing allergens in dogs with atopic dermatitis. One of the most famous dermatologists, Ed Rosser, compared the results of both tests in 29 dogs with seasonal signs. The result: the optimum would be the simulatneous use of both tests!

Canine distemper virus in epidermis of the footpads
Severe hyperkeratosis of the footpads, `hard pad disease`, is one of the clinical manifestations of canine distemper. But what happens in the epidermis? A team from Switzerland and Germany did histopathological and immunhistochemical studies and found a noncytocidal persisting infection of footpad keratinocytes by the distemper virus.

Sex hormone intermediates in dogs with alopecia
Alopecia in dogs in often induced by hormonal imbalances, e.g. hypothyroidism or hyperadrenocorticism. But what if these are excluded? Steroid and sex hormone intermediates are sometimes measured. But: This study shows, that the evaluated parameters show significant breed-specific variations and `breed specific normal values` would be needed.

Oral cyclosporin in canine end stage otitis
Otitis externa is a common problem in dogs, leading to chronic proliferative and sometimes even calcifying tissue changes which cause a stenosis of the ear canal. In most instances, surgery is the only solution in these cases. Is cyclosporin A an alternative to total ear canal ablation?

Dermoid cyst in the dorsal midline of a young horse (case report)
Dermoid cysts are well known in other species and occur especially in certain breeds on a genetic base (e.g. Rhodesian Ridgeback). In horses, they seem to be extremely rare. This case report describes the first epidermal and dermoid cysts in a horse outside Australia and North America.

Topical 0,1% tacrolimus in canine atopic dermatitis
Topical tacrolimus is commonly used in men with atopic dermatitis, especially in children. It offers many advantages compared with topical corticosteroids, showing similar results but less topic and systemic side effects. Is this drug also a good alternative in veterinary medicine?

`Irritant` threshold concentration for insect extracts in equine skin testing
Allergies to a number of insects are commonly seen in horses, showing various clinical manifestations. As in small animals, the intrademal skin test is thought to be the `gold standard` to identify the causative allergens. But how many false-positive results do we see, due to irritant allergens?

Pelvic fractures and the skin
Pelvic fractures are commonly found in cats, often caused by injury. After recovery, fortunately most of them show no sequelae of other organ systems. In this article from Belgium, the author describes three cats that developed similar skin alterations of the lower back about one month after pelvic fracture.

Update in treatment of dermatophytosis in dogs and cats
Dermatophytosis is a common problem especially in cats. Lots of controversial information concerning therapy have been published in the last couple years. Karen Moriello, one of THE experts in this field, gives a brandnew and critical review of the published studies and thus the current therapeutic options.

Hand and forearm dermatoses in veterinarians
Veterinarians are daily exposed to a variety of skin irritants and allergens. At the moment, only a few studies have addressed the occurrence of dermatoses among veterinarians. In this study from Kansas, the frequency of noninfectious hand and forearm dermatoses among Kansas veterinarians and the benefit from using gloves was evaluated.

Preoperative warming to reduce wound infections?
Wound infection after clean surgery is an expensive and often underestimated cause of patient morbidity. The benefits of using prophylactic antibiotics are seen controversially. Is warming the patients an alternative to reduce wound infections?

Interdigital dermatitis - update in therapeutic options
Even with treatment, digital dermatitis or foot warts remain a chronic problem for many dairy herds. Steven Berry, dairy health and management specialist at the University of California-Davis explains, `Research shows that up to 60 percent of cows that are successfully treated for foot warts have a recurrence within seven to 15 weeks.`
Maybe a new vaccine will change the situation...

Intradermal allergy test in psittacines: unreliable with and without intravenous fluorescein
The intradermal skin test is thought to be the `gold standard` in the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis. Unfortunately, the results often are not easy to read, especially in cats. So some years ago the technique was modified: fluorescein was given intravenously prior to the test to stain the positive results. An american group tried the same technique in psittacines...

Transdermal methimazole for treatment of feline hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrine disorder in older cats, and conservative therapy usually requires lifelong oral daily medication. Many owners are unable to give pills to their cats. The application of methimazole on the inner pinna is a fascinating alternative for these cases, but is it also effective?

New technique for skin biopsies in birds
Skin biopsies are a viable diagnostic tool in dermatology and therefore also taken in birds. Due to the very thin avian skin, their biopsies have the tendency to roll or contract, both leading to severe difficulties to separate artefacts from real pathological changes. This new biopsy technique using a tapestrip is quick, inexpensive and gives good results.

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