Page 1317 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition

1292 CHAPTER 12

VetBooks.ir Diagnosis Topical antimicrobials including active ingre-
dients such as chlorhexidine and accelerated
Skin cytology revealing bacteria engulfed by neu-
trophils or positive culture of organisms must
therapy. Oral antimicrobials (e.g. trimethoprim/
be regarded in light of the clinical signs because hydrogen peroxide should be the mainstay of
the causative agents can also be found as skin sulphamethoxazole) may be required in severe
contaminants. cases.

Management Prognosis
This condition can be painful. The area should be The prognosis is fair, but recovery can be slow.
cleaned and dressed with appropriate antimicro- Identification and elimination of underlying aetiolo-
bial creams, ideally based on susceptibility tests. gies will prevent recurrence.

SKIN DISEASES OF FOALS

INTRODUCTION bacteria, fungi and some parasites. These can be
managed relatively easily provided a correct diagno-
Most genetically induced equine skin disease is sis can be reached.
manifested at birth or shortly afterwards, although
some gradually develop as the foal ages (e.g. cuta- APLASIA CUTIS CONGENITA
neous asthenia). Foals can display signs of all types (EPITHELIOGENESIS IMPERFECTA)
of skin disease at an early age and it is therefore
important to distinguish diseases of genetic ori- Definition/overview
gin that are uncommon, unlikely to be treatable This is a rare congenital inherited cutaneous defect
and result in the majority of affected foals being of foals seen at birth and caused by a single auto-
euthanased. The solution for these defects lies in somal recessive gene. There is a complete absence
rearranged breeding programmes or disposal of of epidermis and skin appendages (Fig. 12.102).
the blood lines. Lesions usually occur distal to the carpus and tarsus.
Skin changes occurring from birth to 10 weeks of They bleed easily and quickly become infected, lead-
age are mostly from contact with irritant substances, ing to septicaemia and death.

HEREDITARY EQUINE REGIONAL
12.102 DERMAL ASTHENIA (HERDA,
CUTANEOUS ASTHENIA,
HYPERELASTOSIS CUTIS)

Definition/overview
These are a group of autosomal recessive inher-
ited connective-tissue diseases that have also been
described as Ehlers–Danlos syndrome and dermato-
sparaxis. Most affected horses are Quarter horses,
but registered Paints and Appaloosas with Quarter
horse lineage have been reported. Many of the
Fig. 12.102 Aplasia cutis congenita (epitheliogenesis Quarter horses are from high quality cutting lines.
imperfecta). Complete absence of epidermis and Other breeds have been reported including a cross-
skin appendages distal to the carpus and tarsus. bred Arabian mare, a Thoroughbred gelding, a
(Photo courtesy JP Hughes) Hanoverian foal and a Haflinger pony.