Updates on Human Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis

Weidinger S, Novak N. Atopic dermatitis. Lancet 2015, Sep 11 (ePub ahead of print). (Link to Pubmed). 

PubMed ID (PMID): 26377142  

Reprints: Stephan Weidinger

Boehncke WH, Schön MP. Psoriasis. Lancet 2015; 386: 983-994. (Link to Pubmed). 

PubMed ID (PMID): 26025581

Reprints: Wolf-Henning Boehncke

Comments: These two papers provide excellent up-to-date reviews on the clinical signs, treatment options and immunopathology of these two complex immunologic skin diseases of humans. The depth of information is excellent for residents and veterinary dermatologists wishing to remain updated on these common conditions of humans.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Mutations in the Gene Encoding Keratin 16 Cause Footpad Hyperkeratosis in Dogues de Bordeaux

Plassais J, Guaguère E, Lagoutte L, et al. A spontaneous KRT16 mutation in a dog breed: a model for human focal nonepidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma (FNEPPK). J Invest Dermatol 2015; 135: 1187-1190. (Link to Pubmed). 

PubMed ID (PMID): 25521457

Reprints: Catherine André

Comments: The Dogue de Bordeaux breed has been long known for being predisposed to the development of a hereditary footpad hyperkeratosis. This paper reveals a lack of expression of keratin 16 in suprabasal footpad keratinocytes in affected dogs. Furthermore,  the authors detected a 1 base pair insertion in the KRT16 gene, which resulted in a truncation of keratin 16 due to the loss of the last 85 aminoacids. All affected dogs were found to be homozygotes for the mutated allele; carrier dogs that were heterozygous for the mutation did not exhibit any clinical signs, as is usually the case for the rare autosomal recessive keratinopathies.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

The Histopathology of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis in Dogs is not What you Think!

Banovic F, Olivry T, Dazzle L, Tobias JR, Atlee B, Zabel S, Hensel N, Linder KE. Clinical and microscopic characteristics of canine toxic epidermal necrolysis. Vet Pathol 2015; 52: 321-330. Abstract. 

PubMed ID (PMID): 24907312

Reprints: Keith Linder

Comments: Traditionally, lesions associated with epidermal necrosis without dermal inflammation have been given the diagnosis of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) while those exhibiting lymphocyte-mediated keratinocyte apoptosis at multiple epidermal levels are deemed representative of erythema multiforme (EM). This study shows that, using biopsy material of three dogs with TEN, "EM-like" keratinocyte apoptosis also occurs in canine TEN, as it does for the human disease. As a result, histopathology cannot (and should not) be used for accurately differentiating canine EM and TEN! As for many other diseases, the diagnosis should be made instead from collating information from the history, clinical signs and histopathology.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

CARE Guidelines for Publication of (Human Medical) Case Reports

Gagnier JJ, Kienle J, Altman DG, Moher D, Sox H, Riley D, the CARE Group. The CARE guidelines: consensus-based clinical case reporting guideline development. J Med Case Reports 2013; 7: 223. Abstract. 

PubMed ID (PMID): 24228906

Reprints: Click Here (Open Access)

Comments: These recent consensus guidelines were disseminated widely last year in the medical literature. These guidelines, and especially the items 1-11 of table 1 (CARE guidelines checklist), are likely to prove very helpful to residents wishing to better structure their writing of case reports for publication in veterinary medical journals.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

A Review on Papillomaviruses in Domestic and Wild Felids

Munday JS. Papillomavirus in felids. Vet J 2014; 199: 340-347. Abstract. 

PubMed ID (PMID): 24456796

Reprint: J. Munday

Comments: This recent review first highlights the methods to detect PVs in lesions, then nicely summarizes the clinical, pathologic and viral characteristics of papillomavirus infections of domestic (mostly) and wild cats. For the former, readers will find pertinent information on cutaneous papillomas, viral plaques, Bowenoid in situ carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), sarcoids, as well as oral papillomas and SCCs.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

A Review on Fungal Diseases of Horses

Cafarchia C, Figueredo LA, Otranto D. Fungal diseases of horses. Vet Microbiol 2013; 167: 215-234. Abstract. 

PubMed ID (PMID): 23428378

Reprint: C. Cafarchia 

Comments: This extensive review covers cutaneous, subcutaneous and deep mycoses of horses. There are two large tables that summarize the data and that will be very useful to those individuals studying for the board-examination.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

The Skin Microbiome of Normal and Allergic Dogs

Rodrigues Hoffmann A, Patterson AP, Diesel A, Lawhon SD, Ly HJ, Elkins Stephenson C, Mansell J, Steiner JM, Dowd SE, Olivry T, Suchodolski JS. The skin microbiome in healthy and allergic dogs. PLoS One 2014; 9: e83197. Abstract. 

PubMed ID (PMID): 24421875

Reprints: Open Access

Comments: This is the first original report on the skin microbiome of normal dogs, which was established using skin surface PCR of the 16S rRNA gene, a gene common to all bacteria, with sequencing and identification of all products. This paper, albeit complex, provides interesting results on the variability and most abundant bacterial phyla at different skin and mucosal sites. As in humans, the skin microbiome of a small number of allergic dogs was found to be less diverse than that of normal individuals.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Mechanism of Lesions in Canine Leishmaniosis

Koutinas AF, Koutinas CK. Pathologic mechanisms underlying the clinical findings in canine leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum/chagasi. Vet Pathol 2014; 51: 527-538. Abstract. 

PubMed ID (PMID): 24510947

Reprint: AF Koutinas 

Comments: This is a very useful paper that reviews first the general and then the organ-specific mechanisms (e.g. skin, ocular, renal, musculo-skeletal...) of lesions that occur during leishmaniosis in dogs. A must read for those studying for their dermatology diploma.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Skin Diseases in Exotic Animals

Fisher PG (editor). Select topics in dermatology. Vet Clin N Amer Exotic Anim Pract 2013: 523-820. 

PubMed ID (PMID): multiple

Reprint: N/A

Comments: The entire September 2013 issue of this journal is devoted to various subjects of exotic animal dermatology. Some articles are likely to be very relevant to veterinary dermatologists and their residents: there are etiology-specific papers (ex: "ectoparasites in small exotic mammals", others are on syndromes (ex: "bumblefoot" in rabbits, rodents and birds) or on common diseases (ex: ovarian cysts in the Guinea pig). As these topics are rarely covered in review papers, this specific issue of this journal is likely to be of great value to individuals seeing exotics and/or residents studying for their examination.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Neurogenic Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca with Ipsilateral Dry Nose

Matheis FL, Walser-Reinhardt, Spiess BM. Canine neurogenic keratoconjunctivitis sicca: 11 cases (2006-2010). Vet Opthalmol 2012; 15: 288-290. Abstract. 

PubMed ID (PMID): 22051024

Reprint: FL Matheis 

Comments: This short communication is about an uncommon cause of keratoconjunctivitis sicca that is often accompanied by usually unilateral (ipsilateral) dry nose with hyperkeratosis and/or crusting. If nasal lesions are present, damage to the preganglionic parasympathetic fibers proximal to the pterygopalatine ganglion is suspected. Treatment with oral pilocarpine drops appears to yield some benefit. Note: this paper does not provide much detail on nasal lesions, but it explains, in the introduction, the neurologic basis of this syndrome.

Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA