title: Resident lymphocytes in the dermis of the normal dorsolateral thoracic skin of alpacas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Small numbers of resident T lymphocytes are present in the dermis of normal skin of humans, cattle and sheep.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We wanted to determine the prevalence, numbers and immunophenotype of lymphocytes in the dermis of healthy skin from alpacas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin biopsy specimens were collected from the dorsolateral thorax of 31 alpacas with normal skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin biopsy specimens were evaluated for the prevalence and numbers of CD3+ and CD79a+ lymphocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Resident CD3+ and CD79a+ lymphocytes were found around the superficial and deep dermal blood vessels. The CD3+ lymphocytes were more numerous than CD79a+ lymphocytes. Both CD3+ and CD79a+ lymphocytes were more numerous around superficial dermal blood vessels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Resident CD3+ and CD79a+ lymphocytes are present around superficial and deep dermal blood vessels in normal skin from alpacas; hence, the presence of lymphocytes in these locations without obvious features of inflammation must be interpreted cautiously when evaluating skin biopsy specimens from alpacas with skin disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Heather D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Edginton
authors.forename: Jeanine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peters-Kennedy
authors.forename: Danny W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051925:CD79 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002161:Camelids, New World; D020405:Dermis / Q000166:cytology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D051925:CD79 Antigens