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Clinical, histopathological and therapeutic considerations in a flock of sheep with facial staphylococcal‐associated dermatitis
Author(s) -
Koutinas Alexander F.,
Saridomichelakis Manolis N.,
Argyroudis Stamatis,
Koutinas Christos K.,
Karatzanos Panagiotis,
Giadinis Nektarios
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
veterinary dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1365-3164
pISSN - 0959-4493
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2007.00593.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cefalexin , dermatology , flock , hyperpigmentation , erythema , skin biopsy , buttocks , hypotrichosis , pathology , biopsy , surgery , veterinary medicine , biology , antibiotics , ampicillin , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , gene
In a flock of 290 sheep, a total of 20 ewes (6.9%) with an age range of 1.5–4 years, developed a nonpruritic dermatitis characterized by alopecia/hypotrichosis, erythema, hyperpigmentation, crusting, superficial ulcers, exudation and thickening of the skin that was localized mainly to the peri‐ocular area. Frequent and massive feeding of swarming sucking flies on the lesional sites was witnessed. In every instance ( n = 6), Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from the exudate and the aseptically obtained skin biopsy samples from both recurrent and new cases. The main predisposing factor was the presence of small troughs, which forced the sheep to compete for food. Intramuscular administration of cefalexin for 7 days resulted in the resolution of lesions over a 2‐week period. No further cases or recurrences were seen over the 16‐month follow‐up period. The main histopathological feature of this skin disease was a superficial and deep, perivascular to interstitial eosinophilic and mononuclear dermatitis.