Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Chronic skin problems in horses - causes and effects
By Nimmo Wilkie, J S et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·1985·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Chronic eosinophilic dermatitis: a manifestation of a multisystemic, eosinophilic, epitheliotropic disease in five horses.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This study looks at a serious skin condition affecting five horses, characterized by severe and ongoing skin irritation that causes the skin to peel and become thickened. The horses experienced significant weight loss and the skin problems were linked to inflammation in other organs, especially the pancreas, which developed a chronic condition called pancreatitis. The disease also affected other areas like the salivary glands and the digestive system. Unfortunately, the cause of this condition is not known, and the horses faced a challenging situation due to the severity of their symptoms.
Abstract
A generalized, chronic, progressive, exfoliative dermatitis in five horses is described. Histologically, the lesion is characterized by a superficial and deep perivascular dermatitis which is eosinophil-rich with a marked lymphocytic and plasmacytic component, accompanied by marked acanthosis and hyperkeratosis. More severe cases progress to a lichenoid pattern with the same cellular composition with focal eosinophilic spongiosis and eosinophilic subcorneal pustules. Clinically, the disease is associated with chronic, severe weight loss and is fulminating. The skin lesions are accompanied by lymphoplasmacytic and eosinophilic infiltrates and formation of eosinophilic granulomas in other epithelial organs, most noticeably the pancreas, in which a chronic, fibrosing pancreatitis develops. Other epithelial organs involved to various degrees are salivary glands, the gastrointestinal system, including the oral cavity and esophagus, biliary epithelium and bronchial epithelium. The etiology of this disease is unknown.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2930933/