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Veterinary dermatology2021; 32(4); 374-e106; doi: 10.1111/vde.12982

Bullous amyloidosis in a horse: first description in veterinary medicine.

Abstract: Bullous amyloidosis is a rare disease in humans that has not been described in a veterinary species in the peer-reviewed literature. The human disease is characterised by haemorrhagic vesicles and bullae on the skin and mucosae, which form due to amyloid deposition. Objective: To describe the clinical features, laboratory analysis and histopathological features of an unique presentation of bullous disease in a horse. Methods: A 17-year-old thoroughbred mare presented for weight loss and severe oral cavity ulcers. Methods: Investigations involved haematological evaluation, chemistry profiles, gastroscopy and serum protein electrophoresis, and, postmortem, histopathological evaluation, Congo-red staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: Haemorrhagic vesicles and bullae occurred on the mucosa of the oral cavity, lips, oesophagus and stomach, and much less the muzzle, face and mucocutaneous areas of the perineum, where scarring was evident. Histopathological evaluation and Congo-red staining confirmed the presence of amyloid deposits in dermis and submucosa, in association with vesicle and bulla formation, consistent with bullous amyloidosis. TEM confirmed amyloid fibril deposition in the dermis and along the basement membrane zone. Clefts occurred in the superficial dermis and submucosa, which explained haemorrhage and scarring. The presence of a polyclonal gammopathy and the rapid abolishment of Congo-red staining with performate pretreatment supported serum amyloid A and secondary amyloidosis. Conclusions: Bullous amyloidosis is a novel disease of the horse and a newly recognised differential for bullous disease, for which the haemorrhagic nature of bullae, scarring and deep secondary ulcers are considered clinical clues to the condition. Background: L’amyloïdose bulleuse est une maladie rare chez l’homme qui n’a pas encore été décrite dans une espèce vétérinaire dans la littérature avec comité de lecture. La maladie de l’homme est caractérisée par des vésicules et bulles hémorragiques de la peau et des muqueuses qui se forment après dépôt d’amyloïde. HYPOTHÈSES/OBJECTIFS: Décrire les données cliniques, les analyses de laboratoires et les critères histopathologiques d’une présentation unique de maladie bulleuse chez un cheval. Unassigned: Une jument de race de 17 ans présentée pour perte de poids et ulcères sévères de la cavité buccale. MÉTHODES: Les investigations comprenaient une évaluation hématologique, des profils biochimiques, une gastroscopie et une électrophorèse des protéines sériques et, post mortem, un examen histopathologique, une coloration au rouge Congo et une microscopie à transmission électronique (TEM). RÉSULTATS: Les vésicules et bulles hémorragiques se sont développées sur les muqueuses de la cavité orale, les lèvres, l’œsophage et l’estomac et moins au niveau des narines, de la face et des jonctions cutanéo-muqueuses du périnée où des cicatrices étaient évidentes. Une évaluation histopathologique et une coloration au rouge Congo ont confirmé la présence d’amyloïde dans le derme et les muqueuses, en association avec la formation des vésicules et des bulles, compatible avec l’amyloïdose bulleuse. La TEM a confirmé le dépôt de fibrilles d’amyloïdes dans le derme et au niveau de la membrane basale. Un clivage était présent dans le derme superficiel et les sous muqueuses, expliquant l’hémorragie et les cicatrices. La présence d’une gammapathie polyconale et du rapide disparition de la coloration au rouge Congo avec réalisation d’un prétraitement, soutenaient une amyloïde A sérique et une amyloïdose secondaire. Unassigned: L’amyloïdose bulleuse est une nouvelle maladie du cheval et un nouveau différentiel dans les dermatoses bulleuses pour laquelle la nature hémorragique des bulles, des cicatrices et des ulcères secondaires profonds est considérée comme une donnée clinique évocatrice de l’atteinte. INTRODUCCIÓN: la amiloidosis bullosa es una enfermedad rara en humanos que no se ha descrito en ninguna especie veterinaria en la literatura revisada. La enfermedad humana se caracteriza por vesículas y ampollas hemorrágicas en la piel y las mucosas, que se forman debido al depósito de amiloide. HIPÓTESIS/OBJETIVOS: describir las características clínicas, análisis de laboratorio y características histopatológicas de una presentación única de enfermedad bullosa en un caballo. ANIMALES: una yegua pura sangre de 17 años que se presentó por pérdida de peso y úlceras severas en la cavidad oral. MÉTODOS: Las investigaciones incluyeron evaluación hematológica, perfiles químicos, gastroscopia y electroforesis de proteínas séricas y, post mortem, evaluación histopatológica, tinción con rojo Congo y microscopía electrónica de transmisión (TEM). RESULTADOS: Se observaron vesículas y ampollas hemorrágicas en la mucosa de la cavidad oral, labios, esófago y estómago, y mucho menos en el hocico, la cara y las áreas mucocutáneas del perineo, donde las cicatrices eran evidentes. La evaluación histopatológica y la tinción con rojo Congo confirmaron la presencia de depósitos de amiloide en dermis y submucosa, en asociación con formación de vesículas y ampollas, compatibles con amiloidosis bullosa. TEM confirmó el depósito de fibrillas de amiloide en la dermis y a lo largo de la zona de la membrana basal. Se produjeron hendiduras en la dermis superficial y la submucosa, lo que explica la hemorragia y la cicatrización. La presencia de una gammapatía policlonal y la rápida desaparición de la tinción con rojo Congo con el pretratamiento con permanganato potásico confirmaron amiloide A sérico y la amiloidosis secundaria. CONCLUSIÓN E IMPORTANCIA CLÍNICA: la amiloidosis bullosa es una enfermedad nueva del caballo y un diferencial recientemente reconocido de enfermedades bullosas. La naturaleza hemorrágica de las ampollas, la presencia de cicatrices y de úlceras secundarias profundas se consideran indicios clínicos de esta enfermedad. Unassigned: Die bullöse Amyloidose ist eine seltene Erkrankung beim Menschen, die noch bei keiner tierischen Spezies in Peer-Review Literatur beschrieben wurde. Die Erkrankung ist beim Menschen durch hämorrhagische Bläschen und Blasen auf der Haut und den Schleimhäuten gekennzeichnet, die sich aufgrund von Amyloid Ablagerung bilden. Unassigned: Die Beschreibung der klinischen Merkmale, der Laboranalyse und der histopathologischen Merkmale einer einzigartigen Präsentation einer bullösen Erkrankung bei einem Pferd. Unassigned: Eine 17 Jahre alte Vollblutaraberstute wurde wegen Gewichtsverlust und hochgradigen Ulzera in der Mundhöhle vorgestellt. Methods: Die Untersuchungen beinhalteten Hämatologie, Biochemie, Gastroskopie und eine Serumelektrophorese, sowie post mortem eine histopathologische Evaluierung, Kongorotfärbung und Transmissionselektronenmikroskopie (TEM). Unassigned: Hämorrhagische Bläschen und Blasen traten an der Mundschleimhaut, an den Lippen, der Speiseröhre und im Magen auf, sowie etwas weniger ausgeprägt an der Nase, dem Gesicht und den mucokutanen Übergängen des Perneums, wo Narbenbildung evident war. Die histopathologische Evaluierung und die Kongorotfärbung bestätigten das Vorkommen von Amyloidablagerungen in der Dermis und Submukosa, im Zusammenhang mit Bläschen- und Blasenbildung, was mit einer bullösen Amyloidose übereinstimmte. Die TEM bestätigte Amyloidfasernablagerungen in der Dermis und entlang der Basalmembranzone. In der oberflächlichen Dermis und Submukosa bestand eine Spaltenbildung, die die Blutung und die Narbenbildung erklärten. Das Auftreten eine polyklonalen Gammopathie sowie das rasche Verschwinden der Kongorotfärbung nach performativer Vorbehandlung stützte die Diagnose einer Serum Amyloid A und einer sekundären Amyloidose. Unassigned: Die bullöse Amyloidose ist eine neue Erkrankung des Pferdes und eine neu erkannte Differentialdiagnose für bullöse Erkrankungen, bei der die hämorrhagische Natur der Blasen, die Narbenbildung und die tiefen sekundären Ulzera als klinische Hinweise für diesen Zustand gelten. 背景: 水疱性アミロイドーシスは、ヒトではまれな疾患で、獣医学的にはまだ報告されていない。本疾患は、アミロイド沈着により皮膚や粘膜に形成される出血性の小水疱や水疱が特徴である。 仮説/目的: 本研究の目的は、1頭の馬に認められた水疱疾患のユニークな症状の臨床的特徴、実験室解析および病理組織学的特徴を説明することであった。 供試動物: 17歳のサラブレッドの雌馬が体重減少および重度の口腔内潰瘍のために来院した。 方法: 血液学的評価、化学的プロファイル、胃内視鏡検査、血清タンパク質電気泳動を行い、死後、組織学的評価、コンゴレッド染色、透過型電子顕微鏡 (TEM) を行った。 結果: 出血性小水疱および水疱は口腔、口唇、食道、胃の粘膜に発生し、鼻口部、顔面、会陰粘膜皮膚領域にはほとんど発生せず、瘢痕が認められた。病理組織学的評価およびコンゴレッド染色により、水疱性アミロイドーシスと一致した、小水疱や水疱の形成と関連する真皮および粘膜下層のアミロイド沈着の存在が確認された。TEMでは、真皮および基底膜帯に沿ってアミロイド線維の沈着が確認された。表層の真皮および粘膜下層に裂け目が生じており, 出血および瘢痕化が説明できた。ポリクローナルガンモパシーの存在と、前治療の実施によるコンゴレッド染色の急速な廃絶は、血清アミロイド A および続発性アミロイドーシスを支持した。 結論と臨床的重要性: 水疱性アミロイドーシスは馬の新しい病気であり、水疱症の鑑別として新たに認識された。水疱の出血性の性質、瘢痕、深い二次的な潰瘍がこの病気の臨床的な手がかりと考えられる。. 背景: 大疱性淀粉样变性是一种人类罕见疾病, 动物发病尚未在兽医同行评审文献中描述过。人类疾病的特征是皮肤和粘膜上的出血性水疱和大疱, 其由淀粉样蛋白沉积形成。 假设/目的: 描述马大疱性疾病独特表现的临床特征、实验室分析和组织病理学特征。 动物: 只17岁的纯种母马因体重减轻和严重的口腔溃疡而就诊。 方法: 研究涉及血液学评价、化学特征、胃镜检查和血清蛋白电泳, 以及尸检、组织病理学评价、刚果红染色和透射电子显微镜(TEM)。 结果: 口腔、嘴唇、食管和胃的粘膜上发生出血性水疱和大疱, 更少发生在有明显瘢痕的口鼻、面部和会阴皮肤粘膜区域。组织病理学评价和刚果红染色证实真皮和粘膜下层存在淀粉样沉积物, 与水泡和大疱形成相关, 与大疱性淀粉样变性一致。TEM证实淀粉样纤维沉积于真皮, 并沿基底膜区沉积。裂隙发生在真皮浅层和粘膜下层, 这解释了出血和瘢痕形成。多克隆丙种球蛋白病的存在和进行预处理后刚果红染色的快速消除,支持了血清淀粉样蛋白a和继发性淀粉样变性。 结论和临床意义: 大疱性淀粉样变性是马的一种新型疾病, 并发现与大疱性疾病存在差异, 大疱的出血性质、瘢痕和深部继发性溃疡被认为是该疾病的临床线索。. Unassigned: A amiloidose bolhosa é uma doença rara em humanos que não foi descrita em espécies veterinárias na literatura com sistema de revisão por pares. A doença humana é caracterizada por vesículas e bolhas hemorrágicas na pele e mucosas, que se formam devido à deposição de substância amiloide. HIPÓTESE/OBJETIVOS: Descrever as características clínicas, exames laboratoriais e histopatológicos de uma doença bolhosa com apresentação singular em um cavalo. Unassigned: Uma égua da raça puro-sangue inglês de 17 anos de idade foi apresentada devido a um quadro de perda de peso e úlceras graves da cavidade oral. MÉTODOS: As investigações consistiram de avaliação hematológica, perfil bioquímico, gastroscopia e eletroforese de proteínas séricas e, postmortem, avaliação histopatológica, coloração com vermelho do Congo e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (TEM). Results: Vesículas e bolhas hemorrágicas estavam presentes na mucosa da cavidade oral, lábios, esôfago e estômago, e, em menor quantidade, no focinho, face e regiões mucocutâneas do períneo, onde a presença de tecido cicatricial era evidente. A avaliação histopatológica e a coloração com vermelho do Congo confirmaram a presença de depósitos de substância amiloide na derme e submucosa, associados à formação de vesículas e bolhas, compatível com amiloidose bolhosa. A TEM confirmou a deposição de fibrila amiloide na derme e ao longo da zona da membrana basal. Observou-se a presença de fissuras na derme superficial e submucosa, justificando a hemorragia e as cicatrizes. A presença de uma gamopatia policlonal e a rápida descoloração do vermelho do Congo após pré-tratamento corroboraram com a amiloide A sérica e a amiloidose secundária. CONCLUSÃO E IMPORTÂNCIA CLÍNICA: A amiloidose bolhosa é uma nova doença descrita em equinos e representa um diagnóstico diferencial recentemente reconhecido para quadros bolhosos, sendo que a natureza hemorrágica das bolhas, presença de cicatrizes e úlceras profundas secundárias são consideradas indícios clínicos da condição.
Publication Date: 2021-06-13 PubMed ID: 34121242DOI: 10.1111/vde.12982Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This study details the first known case of bullous amyloidosis in a horse. Bullous amyloidosis, usually seen in humans, is characterized by hemorrhagic vesicles and blisters on the skin due to amyloid deposition. In this study, the symptoms, laboratory results, and histopathological features of this disease were examined in a 17-year-old mare showing severe oral cavity ulcers and weight loss.

Methods of Study

  • The ill horse was subjected to a series of investigations which included hematological evaluation, chemistry profiles, gastroscopy, and serum protein electrophoresis.
  • After the horse’s death, further evaluations were performed including histopathological analysis, Congo-red staining (a test for amyloid proteins), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Results of the Study

  • The mare demonstrated hemorrhagic vesicles and bullae on the mucosa of the oral cavity, lips, esophagus, and stomach, along with less frequent occurrences on the muzzle, face, and mucocutaneous areas of the perineum.
  • Scarring was present in the areas affected.
  • Postmortem histopathological evaluation and Congo-red staining confirmed the presence of amyloid deposits in the dermis and submucosa, associated with vesicle and blister formation, consistent with bullous amyloidosis.
  • Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the deposition of amyloid fibrils in the dermis and along the basement membrane zone.
  • Superficial scarring and submucosal clefts were explained by hemorrhage and scarring.
  • Serum amyloid A and secondary amyloidosis were suggested by a polyclonal gammopathy and a swift negative Congo-red staining response after pretreatment.

Conclusions of the Study

  • These results are strongly indicative of the presence of bullous amyloidosis, marking a new disease identified in horses.
  • Key clinical signs of the condition include the hemorrhagic nature of blisters, scarring, and deep secondary ulcers.
  • This disease is now a recognized differential for bullous conditions in horses.

The implications of this study could lead to a better understanding of bullous amyloidosis in horses and potentially other veterinary species, allowing for improved diagnosis and treatment protocols.

Cite This Article

APA
Fussell D, Bizikova P, Breuhaus B, Harris RA, Moore AR, Chen L, Linder KE. (2021). Bullous amyloidosis in a horse: first description in veterinary medicine. Vet Dermatol, 32(4), 374-e106. https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.12982

Publication

ISSN: 1365-3164
NlmUniqueID: 9426187
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 32
Issue: 4
Pages: 374-e106

Researcher Affiliations

Fussell, Devin
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, NC State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.
Bizikova, Petra
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, NC State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.
Breuhaus, Babetta
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, NC State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.
Harris, R Adam
  • Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 300 West Drake Road, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
Moore, A Russell
  • Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 300 West Drake Road, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
Chen, Laura
  • Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Washington State University, 2607 W Pioneer, Puyallup, WA, 98371, USA.
Linder, Keith E
  • Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, NC State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Amyloid
  • Amyloidosis / diagnosis
  • Amyloidosis / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Blister / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horses
  • Mucous Membrane
  • Skin

References

This article includes 10 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Arifianto D, Esfandiari A, Wibawan IWT, Amrozi A, Maharani M, Darsono D, Setiadi H, Setiyono A. Assessment of health impacts in retired antisera-producing horses: Blood biochemistry and serum amyloid A analysis. Vet World 2024 Sep;17(9):2136-2143.