Page 478 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

Common clinical problems 415

preservative, along with a full case history. some of the common causes of skin disease in
Try to send apparently healthy as well as dis- livestock. For more detailed information consult
eased tissues in the submission. a specialist veterinary centre or the reference
texts listed at the end of the chapter.
Table 10.7 describes some of the common terms
used to identify skin changes. Table 10.8 outlines

Table 10.8 Common causes of hair loss and skin disease.

Clinical sign Cause Common host/comments
Pruritis (itchy skin) with Sarcoptic and chorioptic mange mites Cattle and sheep, equine limbs
or without secondary Aujesky’s disease (viral) Cattle, other signs in pigs
skin lesions Lice (pediculosis) Cattle, sheep, horses
Ked, itchmite, sheep scab Sheep
Scrapie (prion) Sheep
Pruritis, hypersensitivity Sweet itch (midges) Horse
reaction
Pruritis associated with Various (food and contact) All species, urticarial wheals
allergy
Photosensitivity Liver disease, toxins All species
Peri-anal pruritis Oxyuris equi Foals
Parakeratosis and Hypovitaminosis A, vitamin B deficiency, Pigs and other species
hyperkeratosis zinc deficiency
Scurfy skin Vitamin and other deficiency All species
Ectoparasites
Primary urticaria Insect bites, stings and contact All species
hypersensitivity, warble flies, drug reaction,
etc.
Secondary urticaria Can occur following respiratory infections Various
in horses
Erysipelothrix in pigs
Generalised dermatitis Widespread fungal (mycotic) and/or Horses, cattle, sheep
bacterial, i.e. Dermatophilus sp. infection
Ringworm (fungal)
Burns and frost bite All species (hair loss patchy)
All species, extremities
Photosensitivity Chemical irritant and sun burn, All species
Systemic toxaemia and drug reactions All species
Hypersensitivity May occur with mange mites (Sarcoptes Variable lesions, may be severe
(generalized) sp., Demodex sp.) with secondary infection
Regional dermatitis Hook worm and larvae of other parasites Carnivores and humans
(larval migrans)
Specific lesions Various diseases (systemic and localized) Cattle (ulcerative and/or erosive
– foot and mouth disease, BVD,
rinderpest, MCF, etc.)

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