Page 1264 - Veterinary Immunology, 10th Edition

Setters. These dogs developed a symmetrical onychodystrophy,
VetBooks.ir malformations, and loss of the claws. As a result, affected animals

show lameness, severe discomfort, and acute pain. Some develop
ANAs. A possibly related disease of Gordon Setters is black hair

follicular dysplasia. In this disease, dogs begin to shed their black
hair without normal regrowth. The remaining black hair is either
short and stiff or thin and easily removed. Many affected dogs have
positive ANA titers. These two diseases, occurring in the same

breed and often in the same individual, may be closely related.
Mucocutaneous lupus is a form associated with skin lesion
development at mucocutaneous junctions such as the perigenital
and perianal areas, with less involvement at perioral and periocular

sites. A chronic cutaneous form of lupus with bilaterally
symmetrical alopecia and hyperpigmentation has been described in
a Doberman.

Feline Lupus
Lupus is uncommon in cats, in which it usually presents as an

antiglobulin-positive anemia. Other clinical manifestations include
fever, skin disease, thrombocytopenia, polyarthritis, and renal
failure. The ANA test must be interpreted with care in cats since

many normal cats are ANA positive.

Diagnosis

A simple diagnostic rule for lupus could be stated as follows:
Suspect lupus in an animal with multiple disorders such as those

described previously and either a positive test for ANA or a
positive test for LE cells (Box 38.1).

Box 38.1

Diagnostic Criteria for Systemic Lupus

Erythematosus

Any two of the following must be present:

Characteristic skin lesions

1264