Familial ichthyosiform keratoderma in newly out-of-pouch Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) and report of two cases.

Abstract

Primary inherited disorders of cornification in veterinary medicine are uncommon and rarely reported. Herein described is a unique syndrome associated with keratoderma that occurred in two Bennett's wallaby siblings (Macropus rufogriseus), and was characterized by profound thickening of the pad skin of all feet, generalized scaling of haired skin, and death within 7 weeks of out-of-pouch experience. The male also had depressed serum zinc levels. In addition, the male had, on electron microscopic exam of his skin, the presence of abnormal lipid deposits within the stratum corneum and stratum granulosum. The combination of clinical features and electron microscopic findings strongly suggests a syndrome analogous to harlequin ichthyosis or lamellar ichthyosis in humans.