DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS AND PATHOGENESIS OF NON INFECTIOUS, NODULAR TO DIFFUSE, GRANULOMATOUS AND PYOGRANULOMATOUS SKIN LESIONS IN DOGS(PATOLOGIE CUTANEE NON INFETTIVE A CARATTERE NODULARE E DIFFUSO DI TIPO GRANULOMATOSO E PIOGRANULOMATOSO NEL CANE: DIAGNOSTICA DIFFERENZIALE E PATOGENESI)

Non infectious, non neoplastic, nodular to diffuse, granulomatous/pyogranulomatous skin lesions are rarely reported in dogs and they often represent a clinical and histological diagnostic challenge. A precise diagnosis is pivotal for their adequate approach and treatment that differs for each entity. Leishmania spp. was reported in canine skin samples diagnosed as sterile in some veterinary studies. Mycobacterium spp. and other infective partially acid fast organisms (e.g. Serratia spp) might represent a possible source of persistent exogenous antigenic stimulation in cases with a previous diagnosis of sterile lesions. For this reason the aims of this project were to select retrospectly/prospectly skin samples with a histopathological diagnosis of cutaneous sterile nodular lesion and: to investigate the presence/absence of microorganisms by haematoxylin and eosin, PAS, Ziehl\u2013Neelsen, Gram and Fite Faraco; to exclude presence of foreign bodies with polarized light examination; to detect the presence/absence of Leishmania spp. antigenic persistence in canine skin samples diagnosed histologically as sterile by immunohistochemistry; to perform identification of Leishmania spp., Mycobacterium spp., Serratia marcescens and Nocardia spp. by means of Real Time-PCR in canine skin samples diagnosed as sterile; to evaluate the effectiveness of RT-PCR technique in detecting Leishmania organisms in comparison with immunohistochemistry (Anti-Leishmania, anti-Bacillus Calmette-Guerin). Forty formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin biopsies were collected from 40 dogs through the Diagnostic Pathology Service of the Veterinary Faculty of Milan, Italy and through the Pathology Service of Ambulatorio Veterinario Associato, Turin, Italy. All samples had lesions corresponding to the sterile granulomatous/pyogranulomatous pattern, in which neither microorganisms nor foreign bodies were detected by H&E and polarized light. PAS, Gram, Ziehl\u2013Neelsen and Fite Faraco were negative for infective agents. All the samples were examined by RT-PCR analysis for Leishmania spp., Mycobacterium spp., Serratia marcescens and Nocardia spp. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed for Leishmania spp. Skin lesions were represented by nodules in 25/40, alopecia in 7/40, exfoliation and ulcers 3/40, crusts in 2/40; in 3/40 cases they were not reported. PAS, Ziehl\u2013Neelsen, Gram and Fite-Faraco were negative for infective agents and polarized light failed to reveal any foreign bodies. The histological pattern was nodular to diffuse in 17/40, focally nodular in 12/40 and diffuse in 11/40. The infiltrate was granulomatous in 20/40, pyogranulomatous in 8/40 and granulomatous/pyogranulomatous in 12/40. The histological diagnosis was SPGS in 14/40, granulomatous vs pyogranulomatous dermatitis in 15/40, sterile nodular panniculitis in 4/40, reactive histiocytosis in 5/40 and juvenile cellulitis in 2/40. BCG was negative for infective agents. Immunohistochemistry for Leishmania spp. was positive in 1/40 samples while RT-PCR for Leishmania spp. was positive in 4/40 biopsies collected. RT-PCR for Serratia marcescens was positive in 2/40 samples; RT-PCR for Mycobacterium spp. and Nocardia spp. were negative in all 40 samples. In conclusion, Leishmania spp. and Serratia marcescens were the only infective agent identified in a minority of skin lesions with a diagnosis of cutaneous sterile nodular lesions. Further studies regarding other bacterial or protozoal organisms might lead to different conclusions

Prevalence of PNPLA1 Gene Mutation in 48 Breeding Golden Retriever Dogs

A non-epidermolytic ichthyosis has been identified in Golden Retrievers due to a variant in the PNPLA1 gene, and a genetic test is available to detect wild-type, heterozygous and homozygous dogs. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of the PNPLA1 gene variant in Golden Retrievers used for breeding and to provide more information to breeders in order to restrict the spread of this disease. Clinical examination and assessment of the PNPLA1 genotype using PCR testing of oral swabs were performed in 48 breeding Golden Retrievers. Wild-type, heterozygous or homozygous variants of the PNPLA1 gene were demonstrated in 10 (21%), 23 (48%), and 15 (31%) of the 48 dogs, respectively. In only 3 of the 48 dogs were clinical signs suggestive of ichthyosis identified. Data collected agreed with data reported in the literature. The high prevalence of homozygous and heterozygous variants makes the exclusion of mutated dogs from breeding impractical. Furthermore, the reliability of the PNPLA1 mutation in prediction of clinical signs of ichthyosis is unclear. Additional studies are needed to investigate if PNPLA1 is the only gene involved or if other genes and environmental factors have a role in the development of ichthyosis in Golden Retrievers

Effect of dietary supplementation with ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide in maintaining remission in cats with nonflea hypersensitivity dermatitis: a double-blind, multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled study

Background Feline nonflea hypersensitivity dermatitis (NFHD) is a frequent cause of over-grooming, scratching and skin lesions. Multimodal therapy often is necessary. Hypothesis/Objectives To investigate the efficacy of ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide (PEA-um) in maintaining methylprednisolone-induced remission in NFHD cats. Animals Fifty-seven NFHD cats with nonseasonal pruritus were enrolled originally, of which 25 completed all study requirements to be eligible for analysis. Methods and materials Cats were randomly assigned to PEA-um (15 mg/kg per os, once daily; n = 29) or placebo (n = 28) while receiving a 28 day tapering methylprednisolone course. Cats responding favourably to methylprednisolone were then administered only PEA-um (n = 21) or placebo (n = 23) for another eight weeks, followed by a four week long treatment-free period. Cats were maintained in the study until relapse or study end, whichever came first. Primary outcome was time to relapse. Secondary outcomes were pruritus Visual Analog Scale (pVAS), SCORing Feline Allergic Dermatitis scale (SCORFAD) and owner Global Assessment Score (GAS). Results Mean relapse time was 40.5 days (+/- 7.8 SE) in PEA-um treated cats (n = 13) and 22.2 days (+/- 3.7 SE) for placebo (n = 12; P = 0.04). On Day 28, the severity of pruritus was lower in the PEA-um treated cats compared to placebo (P = 0.03). Mean worsening of pruritus at the final study day was lower in the PEA-um group compared to placebo (P = 0.04), whereas SCORFAD was not different between groups. Mean owner GAS at the final study day was better in the PEA-um than the placebo-treated group (P = 0.05). Conclusion and clinical importance Ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide could represent an effective and safe option to delay relapse in NFHD cats

Primo caso di Straelensia cynotis nel cane in Italia : aspetti clinici, diagnostici e terapeutici di un\u2019ectoparassitosi inusuale

La Straelensia cynotis \ue8 un acaro parassita che infesta generalmente gli animali selvatici solo nello stadio larvale del suo ciclo vitale. Occasionalmente, la parassitosi \ue8 stata segnalata anche nel cane come causa di una dermatite papulo- pustolosa in alcuni paesi europei. Gli scopi di questo articolo sono segnalare il primo caso in Italia di straelensiosi nel cane e descriverne le caratteristiche cliniche ed istopatologiche principali

Un caso di dermatite iperplastica-verrucosa cronica con acantolisi soprabasale follicolare in un giovane Bulldog

Viene descritto un caso clinico patologico di difficile interpretazione diagnostica inerente un cane Bulldog, presentato per una malattia crostosa diffusa ad andamento cronico con moderato prurito. La controversia patologica riguarda un difetto primario o acquisito della cheratinizzazione complicato da infezioni secondarie (Acrochordon) e una malattia autoimmune caratterizzata da dermatite iperplastica-verrucosa cronica con acantolisi soprabasale follicolare \u201cpemfigo-like\u201d, ma priva di coinvolgimento mucosale.A difficult clinical pathologic case in a Bulldog dog is described, because of a chronic diffuse crusting dermatitis with mild pruritus.The pathological discussion concerns a primary or secondary kerati-nization defect with infections (Acrochordon) and an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic verrucous and hyperplastic dermatitis with "pemphigus-like" suprabasal follicular acantholysis, without mucosal involvement