Zinc-responsive dermatosis in dogs: 41 cases and literature review.

Forty-one cases of zinc-responsive dermatosis in the dog are described. The Siberian husky was the predominant breed affected. Periocular crusts were the most common clinical sign and parakeratosis was noted in the skin biopsy specimens of all dogs. Treatment with oral zinc ameliorated the clinical signs in most dogs, but cases necessitating other treatments such as parenteral zinc or retinoids are reported. The authors recommend a starting dose of 2-3 mg kg-1 elemental zinc per day in the treatment of this disorder.

Rapid identification of tissue micro-organisms in skin biopsy specimens from domestic animals using polyclonal BCG antibody.

Immunostaining with polyclonal anti-Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) was evaluated as a single screening method for the histological identification of micro-organisms in skin biopsy specimens from various veterinary species. Confirmed archival cases infected with Mycobacteria, Nocardia, Actinobacillus, Actinomyces, Streptococcus/Staphylococcus, Dermatophilus, spirochetes, Blastomyces, Coccidioides, Cryptococcus, Histoplasma, dermatophytes, Malassezia, Sporothrix, Leishmania, Pythium, phaeohyphomycetes and Prototheca organisms were selected. A total of 70 skin biopsy specimens from the dog, cat, horse, ox and llama were evaluated. The anti-BCG immunostain labelled bacteria and fungi with high sensitivity and minimal background staining but did not label spirochetes and protozoa (Leishmania). Differences were not noted between veterinary species. The results indicate that immunostaining with polyclonal anti-BCG is a suitable screening technique for the rapid identification of most common bacterial and fungal organisms in paraffin-embedded specimens. Also, mycobacterial and nocardial organisms were identified more readily with the anti-BCG immunostain in comparison to the histochemical stains.