Long-term successful treatment of a donkey with cutaneous lupus erythematous with methotrexate.

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is a rare immune-mediated dermatitis. To the best of the authors' knowledge it has not been described in donkeys. A 5-year-old male neutered donkey, living in south-east France, was diagnosed with CLE. Clinical signs included generalized symmetrical areas of alopecia, erythema, crusting and scales. Diagnostic tests included examination of skin biopsy samples by histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis which demonstrated an interface dermatitis with CD8+ T cells. The skin condition was successfully treated initially with glucocorticoids and methotrexate; successful long-term maintenance was associated with administration of methotrexate.

Le lupus cutané érythémateux (CLE) est une dermatite à médiation immune rare. A la connaissance des auteurs, il n'a pas été décrit chez le singe. Un singe mâle castré de 5 ans, vivant dans le sud-est de la France a été diagnostiqué avec CLE. Les signes cliniques incluaient des zones symétriques généralisées d'alopécie, d'érythème, de croûtes et de pellicules. Les tests diagnostics comprenaient un examen histopathologique et immunohistochimique de biopsies cutanées qui ont révélé une dermatite d'interface avec cellules T CD8+. La dermatose a été traitée avec succès initialement avec des corticoïdes et du méthotrexate; un traitement efficace au long cours a été associé avec l'administration de méthotrexate.

El lupus eritematoso cutáneo (CLE) es una rara dermatitis inmunomediada. A entender de los autores, esta enfermedad no se ha descrito en burros. Un burro castrado macho de 5 años de edad, que vive en el sureste de Francia fue diagnosticado con CLE. Los signos clínicos incluyeron áreas simétricas generalizadas de alopecia, eritema, costras y escamas. Las pruebas de diagnóstico incluyeron el examen de muestras de biopsia de piel mediante análisis histopatológico e inmunohistoquímico que demostró una dermatitis de interfase con células T CD8+. La condición de la piel se trató con éxito inicialmente con glucocorticoides y metotrexato; el control exitoso a largo plazo de la enfermedad se obtuvo con la administración de metotrexato.

O lúpus eritematoso cutâneo (LEC) é uma dermatite imunomediada rara. De acordo com os conhecimentos do autor, a doença ainda não foi descrita em jumentos. Um jumento macho castrado de cinco anos de idade, habitante do sul da França, foi diagnosticado com LEC. Os sinais clínicos incluíram alopecia, eritema, crostas e descamação generalizadas e simétricas. Os testes diagnósticos utilizados foram avaliação de amostras de biópsia por análise histopatológica e imunohistoquímica, que demonstraram dermatite de interface com células T CD8+. A dermatopatia foi tratada satisfatoriamente inicialmente com glicocorticoide e metotrexato; a manutenção satisfatória a longo prazo foi associada à administração de metotrexato.

Skin lesions in Aubrac cows strongly associated with fly bites (Haematobia irritans).

BACKGROUND: The horn fly Haematobia irritans is known to cause problems in cattle including weight loss and decreased milk production; cutaneous lesions have not been widely reported and descriptions of the clinical manifestations are quite variable. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: This study describes the clinical and histopathological lesions of several Aubrac cows that presented with focal to confluent areas of alopecia, skin scaling and thickening, suspected to be induced by H. irritans bites. ANIMALS: Twenty seven, three- to six-year-old Aubrac cows, kept in mountain pastures in France, that presented with an apparently asymptomatic alopecic dermatosis. METHODS: Samples for skin cytological evaluation, skin scrapings and trichograms were examined; also, skin biopsy specimens from affected animals were used for histopathological examination. RESULTS: Clinical lesions consisted of focal to coalescing, symmetrical areas of hair loss and scaling, located on the back, flanks, and lateral and caudal aspects of the thighs. Histopathological examination revealed perivascular, oedematous, eosinophilic dermatitis with eosinophilic folliculitis and furunculosis. Species identification of several flies captured on the cows revealed H. irritans. The final clinicopathological diagnosis was eosinophilic dermatitis and folliculitis and furunculosis, suspected to be due to H. irritans fly-bite. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Fly-bite (H. irritans) dermatitis should be included in the differential diagnosis of alopecic dermatoses in cows.

Successful medical treatment of an Aspergillus terreus mycetoma of the nostril/lip in a 16-year-old Fjord pony gelding with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Mycetoma is a chronic, proliferative lesion of cutaneous/subcutaneous tissue characterized by draining tracts and granules in the discharge caused by actinomycetes (actinomycetoma) or filamentous fungi (eumycotic mycetoma). OBJECTIVES: This case report describes the unusual finding of a cutaneous mycetoma of the lateral wing of the right nostril in a gelding. ANIMAL: A 16-year-old Fjord gelding with suspected pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) was presented for evaluation of a nonpainful, firm and raised mass involving the lateral wing of the right nostril and the lip. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cytological examination of the mass showed marked pyogranulomatous inflammation and histopathological examination revealed a fungal mycetoma. Fungal culture identified the causative organism as Aspergillus terreus, which is not known for its propensity to cause either dermal granulomas or mycetoma in domestic animals. Further investigation, including a TRH stimulation test, led to a diagnosis of PPID (Cushing's disease), which may have led to immunosuppression of the animal and increased susceptibility to infection. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The horse was treated medically with pergolide for the PPID and oral potassium iodide for the fungal infection, with good therapeutic response and no relapse after five months. Surgical debridement or excision was not performed. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first case report of a cutaneous mycetoma caused by A. terreus in a horse.