title: Clinical, immunological and histopathological findings in a subpopulation of dogs with pododermatitis.
abstract: Clinical, immunological and histopathological findings in 20 adult dogs of varying breeds with chronic (>or=6 months) inflammation confined to the pedal skin were compared over a 2-year period with those of a group of age-matched controls (n=20). All affected dogs were pruritic but systemically well. Lesions were present on all four feet in 18/20 cases. Affected feet were characteristically erythematous, swollen, painful and alopecic. Sinus tracts were evident in 4/20 dogs. Despite a methodical series of diagnostic tests, no underlying cause was identified. None of the dogs responded to antimicrobial therapy administered for 8 weeks, none had evidence of ectoparasitism and none satisfied the criteria for atopic dermatitis. There was no response to a dietary trial using a novel protein source. The condition was characterized histopathologically by epidermal hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, spongiosis, dermal oedema and perivascular aggregates of lymphocytes and plasma cells. Clinical signs did not correlate with histopathological findings. Affected dogs had significantly elevated serum IgG and IgM concentrations. The results of lymphocyte proliferation assays and phenotypic studies to determine the relative percentage of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD21+ lymphocyte subsets, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ cells were not significantly different between groups. No age, sex or seasonal predilections were noted. All dogs subsequently responded to immunosuppressive doses of prednisolone or cyclosporin. The term immunomodulatory-responsive lymphocytic-plasmacytic pododermatitis is proposed to denote what may be a previously unrecognized condition in some dogs with pododermatitis of undetermined aetiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland. rory.breathnach@ucd.i.e
authors.forename: Rory M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Breathnach
authors.forename: Kenneth P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: McGeady
authors.forename: Carol M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Aherne
authors.forename: Boyd R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011537:Pruritus / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D011239:Prednisolone