Pemphigus foliaceus in a goat

Pemphigus foliaceus in two pet Nigerian Dwarf goats

Two male Nigerian Dwarf pet goats from a group of three living in rural southern Wisconsin, USA, presented at the same time with an eight-month history of pruritus and marked crusting on head, axillae and inguinal regions. Parasite investigations were negative, and there was no response to antiparasitic treatment. Fungal and bacterial cultures did not reveal a cause. Histopathology was consistent with a diagnosis of pemphigus foliaceus, and goats were treated with immunosuppressive doses of injectable dexamethasone sodium phosphate. After six weeks of treatment, clinical remission was achieved, and immunosuppressive therapy was continued. Three months later, goat 2 developed presumptive viral pneumonia; necropsy reported presumptive caprine arthritis encephalitis virus. One year into treatment, goat 1 developed similar clinical signs and was euthanased. In goats, pemphigus foliaceus is rare and can be treated using glucocorticoids, but as in other species, chronic immunosuppression increases susceptibility to infections.

Successful treatment of pemphigus foliaceus in a Berrichon du Cher ram with methylprednisolone acetate

BACKGROUND

Pemphigus foliaceus is a severe, autoimmune blistering skin disease, which is described in humans and some animal species. In small ruminants pemphigus foliaceus has rarely been described and, to the best of the authors' knowledge, little information is available about successful treatment in sheep.

AIM

This case report describes a Berrichon du Cher ram with the presumed diagnosis of pemphigus foliaceus.

METHODS

The ram was treated with methylprednisolone acetate 40 mg at a dosage of 2.5 mg/kg in one subcuticular injection at four week intervals over a one year period, with regular observation of clinical parameters. Four months after treatment was initiated the haematological parameters showed lymphopenia and leukopenia; some enzyme activities were substantially increased.

RESULTS

The ram's dermatological condition improved to the point of complete healing of the affected skin. The ram was discharged in good condition. No adverse effects, except an elevation of some enzymes associated with liver function, were observed. At postmortem examination moderate fatty liver syndrome was the only abnormality found.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

This case report demonstrated that long term therapy with methylprednisolone acetate in a sheep with pemphigus foliaceus did not have a negative effect on clinical parameters. Nevertheless, due to the extended statutory withdrawal period resulting from the regular administration of glucocorticoids, such a therapeutic option must be critically assessed in food producing animals.

Pênfigo foliáceo em eqüino: relato de caso

Diagnosticou-se pênfigo foliáceo em um eqüino macho, castrado, quatro anos de idade da raça Árabe apresentando dermatite generalizada caracterizada por placas escamo-crostosas e presença de dermatite pustular acantolítica subcorneal.

Immunohistological analysis of immune cells in blistering skin lesions

BACKGROUND

Bullous skin lesions are characterised by the presence of intraepidermal or subepidermal bullae. Although inflammatory cell infiltrate is a constant feature in these lesions, their immunophenotypic characterisation is still incomplete.

AIM

To determine whether the development of bullous skin diseases is associated with changes in the inflammatory cell infiltrate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

34 cases representing lesions with both intraepidermal and subepidermal bullae were examined using immunoperoxidase staining methods and antibodies targeting antigens for histiocytes (CD68), B cells (CD20+), T cells (CD3+), T cells with cytotoxic potential (T cell intracellular associated antigen, TIA1+) and activity (granzyme B, GRB+). The adjacent normal skin (lesions) and an additional five cases of normal skin were also examined (controls).

RESULTS

The transition from normal skin to lesional skin (lesions with intraepidermal and subepidermal bullae) was associated with a significant increase (p< or =0.05) in the density of total inflammatory cell infiltrate, CD68+ cells, CD3+ T lymphocytes, CD20+ B lymphocytes, TIA1+ -resting cytotoxic T cells and GRB+ T cells with cytotoxic activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The increase in inflammatory cell infiltrate during the transition from normal to lesional skin may reflect the presence of an increased antigenicity of the lesional cells or a response to some basement membrane components. CD68+ and CD3+ cells, especially the resting cytotoxic ones, achieved numerical dominance in these lesions. Cell-mediated immunity seems to have critical role in the development of these lesions.

A review of autoimmune skin diseases in domestic animals: I - superficial pemphigus

In humans, the pemphigus denomination encompasses a group of autoimmune blistering skin diseases with intraepidermal separation resulting from cell-cell detachment by acantholysis. Entities are classified based on the level of blistering in the epidermis, and both superficial (pemphigus foliaceus, IgA pemphigus) and deep (pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus vegetans and paraneoplastic pemphigus) variants are recognized. In domestic animals, subsets of pemphigus have been recognized since the mid-1970s, and the disease classification resembles that used for human patients. This article reviews up-to-date knowledge on the epidemiology, clinical signs, histopathology, immunopathology and treatment outcome of superficial pemphigus in domestic animals. Detailed information on canine, feline, equine and caprine pemphigus foliaceus, canine and feline pemphigus erythematosus and canine panepidermal pustular pemphigus is provided.