[Pemphigus foliaceus in a Haflinger gelding].

The research focused on a case where a 10-year-old Haflinger horse had been diagnosed with a severe chronic skin disease called pemphigus foliaceus. After treating the horse with glucocorticoids and gold salts, the skin issues completely resolved within 8 weeks and there was no recurrence for a year.

Overview of the Case

• The subject of the study was a 10-year-old Haflinger gelding that presented severe, generalized, chronic dermatitis. The condition was characterized by scales, crusts, and widespread hair loss (alopecia) in both diffuse and circumscribed patterns.
• Pemphigus foliaceus was diagnosed as the cause of the skin condition, based on the history of the horse, its clear clinical signs, and examination of skin biopsies.

Explanation of Pemphigus Foliaceus

• Pemphigus foliaceus is a rare, severe, and chronic skin disease that affects both humans and animals, including horses.
• It is characterized by significant skin symptoms including scales (dry/dead skin cells that have flaked off), crust formations, and alopecia (hair loss).
• In this specific case, the skin biopsy revealed typical histological findings associated with pemphigus foliaceus: subcorneal pustules (small blister-like swellings underneath the outer layer of skin) with accumulations of intact neutrophil granulocytes (a type of white blood cell) and acantholytic keratinocytes (skin cells that have lost their ability to stick together).

Treatment and Outcome

• The Haflinger gelding was treated with a combination of glucocorticoids and gold salts. Glucocorticoids are a type of corticosteroid, which are often used to reduce inflammation. Gold salts were used as an anti-inflammatory treatment and have been used successfully in the past to treat pemphigus foliaceus in horses.
• Eight weeks following the treatment, the severe skin lesions had completely resolved.
• The research noted that no recurrence of the condition was observed during the follow-up period of one year after the treatment was administered, indicating the effectiveness of the treatment method used for this particular gelding.