Porcine Juvenile Pustular Psoriasiform Dermatitis
- Also called Pityriasis Rosea
- Occurs in pigs
- Symmetric lesions on the abdomen, loin and medial thigh
- Start as small papules covered by brown crusts
- -> lesions join and spread -> umbilicated plaques containing white centres with erythematous and scaly borders
- Similar to dermatophytosis
- Histologically:
- Epidermal hyperplasia, parakeratosis, epidermal pustules and superficial perivascular dermatitis
- For more detail see Porcine Juvenile Pustular Psoriasiform Dermatitis
Porcine Juvenile Pustular Psoriasiform Dermatitis (Pityriasis rosea)
General
- Pityriasis rosea is a self‑limiting inflammatory disease of young pigs.
- The disease is of unknown etiology.
- There is a predilection for the white breeds, especially the Landrace, and suggestions of a hereditary link.
- Although the mode of inheritance is not simple, it is clear that swine that have had this condition are more likely to produce affected progeny.
- The condition is noncontagious.
- Experimental attempts at transmitting the disease, and attempts to demonstrate any significant microorganisms have failed.
- The disease has been observed in cesarean‑derived SPF pigs.
- The condition most frequently occurs in young pigs, 3‑14 weeks of age, and often more than one member of a litter is affected.
- Although this condition had been previously called pityriasis rosea, clinically and pathologically it is nothing like pityriasis rosea in humans!
Clinical Signs
- There are usually no systemic signs. Skin lesions may be preceded by anorexia, vomiting, & diarrhea.
- There is no fever.
Gross Lesions
- Primary lesions are seen on the ventral abdomen or medial thighs, and appear as symmetric, sharply defined, red raised plaques up to 6 mm in diameter.
- These expand centrifugally, often coalescing to produce whorling mosaic or serpiginous patterns, and may extend up the sides and perineum.
- As they expand, lesions become scaly and heal from the center outward, producing ring‑shaped lesions with a center of scaly or normal appearing skin surrounded by a zone of elevated erythematous skin and scales.
- The term pseudo-ringworm has been used to describe this condition.
- Lesions are nonirritant and usually resolve spontaneously in 2 ‑ 10 weeks.
Microscopic Lesions
- Skin biopsy reveals superficial perivascular dermatitis with psoriasiform epidermal hyperplasia.
- The superficial dermis usually shows mild to moderate mucinous degeneration, and eosinophils and neutrophils are the predominant inflammatory cell types.
- Intra-epidermal pustules containing eosinophils and neutrophils are prominent in early lesions.
- Parakeratotic hyperkeratosis is usually prominent.
Differential Diagnosis
- Dermatophytosis ‑ (etio: Tr. mentagrophytes, M. canis, Tr. verrucosum var. discoides, M. nanum, Tr. rubrum) Ruled‑out due to lack of mycotic organisms.
- Exudative epidermitis (greasy pig disease) ‑ (Staphylococcus hyicus) Early lesions may appear as red plaques, but soon become exudative and ulcerated; R/O based on culture, lesion distribution, histopathology.
- Dermatosis vegetans ‑ Systemic, erythematous maculopapular dermatitis caused by the inheritance of a autosomal recessive, semilethal factor. Skin, coronary band and hoof lesions, giant cell pneumonia, fatal.
- Swinepox ‑ Ballooning degeneration and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies.
Postgraduate
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- IL-3 is involved... Vet Path (2007) 34: 45-43