Francesca Abramo
University of Pisa, Veterinary Sciences, Faculty Member
A new papillomatous clinical entity is described affecting the penile mucosa of dogs. The animals, 11 male dogs of different breeds, ageing from 6 to 13 years, were presented for genital mass and occasional haematuria. Surgical incision... more
A new papillomatous clinical entity is described affecting the penile mucosa of dogs. The animals, 11 male dogs of different breeds, ageing from 6 to 13 years, were presented for genital mass and occasional haematuria. Surgical incision of the prepuce skin of the anaesthetized dogs showed the presence of single pedunculated, soft, pink-red, cauliflower-like masses arising from the penile mucosa, with diameter ranging from 2 to 8 cm. In all cases, histopathological examination of the excised masses showed normal epithelial differentiation with digitiform expansion of all the layers and elongated rete ridges slanted towards the periphery of the lesion. Evidence of ballooning degeneration or basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies was not found. Both immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction techniques failed to reveal papillomavirus. According to the histological World Health Organization classification of papillomatous lesions and due to the lack of evidence of a viral origin the masses were identified as idiopathic mucosal penile squamous papillomas. Urinary problems resolved after surgical excision, haematuria was therefore considered secondary to ulceration of the papillated masses.
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A 7-year-old-female goat was referred with a 3-month history of chronic dermatitis, which partially responded to combined corticosteroid and antibiotic therapy. At dermatological examination diffuse alopecia, pustules and crusts were... more
A 7-year-old-female goat was referred with a 3-month history of chronic dermatitis, which partially responded to combined corticosteroid and antibiotic therapy. At dermatological examination diffuse alopecia, pustules and crusts were observed on the head, neck, dorsum and perianal area. Dermatophyte culture and skin scrapings were negative. Trichoscopic examination revealed a concurrent infestation with Damalinia caprae, which was successfully treated with ivermectin. Cytological examination of pus from intact pustules revealed nondegenerate neutrophils, absence of bacteria and numerous nucleated, irregularly shaped keratinocytes. Histopathological examination of lesional skin revealed intracorneal pustules containing neutrophils and acantholytic cells, and a mixed cell superficial perivascular dermatitis. Immunohistochemical stains of lesional skin showed intercellular IgG deposits in the spinous layer. Remission of the dermatitis was obtained with injectable dexamethasone-21-isonicotinate, every two months for one year. This is the first report to describe the cytological appearance of impression smears from intact pustules of pemphigus foliaceus in a goat and to document the presence of IgG deposits in lesional skin by means of immunohistochemistry.