title: Clinical, histopathological and therapeutic considerations in a flock of sheep with facial staphylococcal-associated dermatitis.
abstract: In a flock of 290 sheep, a total of 20 ewes (6.9%) with an age range of 1.5-4 years, developed a nonpruritic dermatitis characterized by alopecia/hypotrichosis, erythema, hyperpigmentation, crusting, superficial ulcers, exudation and thickening of the skin that was localized mainly to the peri-ocular area. Frequent and massive feeding of swarming sucking flies on the lesional sites was witnessed. In every instance (n = 6), Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from the exudate and the aseptically obtained skin biopsy samples from both recurrent and new cases. The main predisposing factor was the presence of small troughs, which forced the sheep to compete for food. Intramuscular administration of cefalexin for 7 days resulted in the resolution of lesions over a 2-week period. No further cases or recurrences were seen over the 16-month follow-up period. The main histopathological feature of this skin disease was a superficial and deep, perivascular to interstitial eosinophilic and mononuclear dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Companion Animal Clinic (Medicine), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, St. Voutyra 11, 54327, Thessaloniki, Greece. sanimed@vet.auth.gr
authors.forename: Alexander F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Koutinas
authors.forename: Manolis N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Saridomichelakis
authors.forename: Stamatis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Argyroudis
authors.forename: Christos K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Koutinas
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karatzanos
authors.forename: Nektarios
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Giadinis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002506:Cephalexin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002506:Cephalexin