Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia in three related Quarter horses in Brazil.
- Journal:
- Veterinary dermatology
- Year:
- 2005
- Authors:
- Borges, Alexandre S et al.
- Affiliation:
- Universidade Estadual Paulista · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This report discusses a genetic skin condition called hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia, which affects three related Quarter horses in Brazil. These horses showed unusual skin problems, including areas where the skin was very stretchy and painful when touched, leading to wounds from minor injuries. The affected skin was thinner than normal and had hard lumps around the edges. Tests on the skin showed that the collagen, which helps keep skin strong, was not arranged properly, but no unusual findings were seen with special stains or electron microscopy. This condition is inherited in a specific way, and this is the first time it has been reported in Brazil, with similarities to cases seen in the United States.
Abstract
Hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia belongs to a group of inherited, congenital connective tissue dysplasias usually described as hyperelastosis cutis, cutaneous asthenia, dermatosparaxis, or Ehlers-Danlos-like syndrome. This report presents the clinical and histological features of three related Quarter horses affected with regional dermal asthenia. These horses had bilateral asymmetric lesions of the trunk and lumbar regions, where the skin was hyperextensible. Handling of the skin elicited a painful response and superficial trauma led to skin wounds. The skin was thinner than normal in the affected areas, with thickened borders and harder fibrotic masses (pseudotumours). The histopathological findings included thinner and smaller collagen fibrils, and a loose arrangement of collagen fibres in the middle, adventitial and deep dermis. Masson's trichrome and Calleja stains did not reveal any abnormality of collagen and elastic fibres. Electron microscopy showed no abnormalities. As in human patients, pseudotumour histopathological findings included fibroplasia and neovascularization. The pedigree chart of these animals supports an autosomal recessive type of inheritance, which has been suggested by other studies. This is the first report of this disease in Brazil. Its clinical and histological features resemble those described in horses affected with this condition in the United States.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15842544/