• Blistering diseases
  • Autoantibodies bind to desmosomal proteins -> cell adhesion disrupted -> vesicles
  • Types:
    • Pemphigus vulgaris
      • Rare, severe form
      • Cats and dogs
      • Vesicles or bullae -> erosions and ulcers
      • Involves oral cavity, mucocutaneous junctions and skin
      • Microscopically:
        • Suprabasilar vesiculation and row of basal cells adhering to basement membrane
        • Superficial perivascular dermatitis
    • Pemphigus vegetans
      • Rare
      • Dogs
      • Involves the trunk
      • Mild version of P. vulgaris
      • Vesicopustular dermatitis + epidermal hyperplasia -> papillomatous formations
    • Pemphigus foliaceus
      • More common
      • Cats, dogs, horses, goats
      • Localised lesions or generalised
      • Symmetrical vesicular or pustular dermatitis, crusts, scales, alopecia
      • Microscopically:
        • Acantholytic cells
        • Subcorneal or intragranular pustules
        • In third of equine or canine cases eosinophils are predominant
    • Pemphigus erythematosus
      • Cats and dogs
      • Mild form of P. foliaceus
      • Usually involves only face and external ears


Autoimmune

  • Occasionally see vesicles on the oral mucosa. associated with autoimmune diseases such as Pemphigus vulgaris.