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Ichthyosis congenita in a calf in Iran

A. Raoofi, DVM, DVSc, Department of Clinical Sciences, S. H. Mardjanmehr, DVM, PhD, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, PO Box 14155-6453, Tehran, Iran Sh. Nekoei, DVM, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Azad University of Shahre-Kord, PO Box 166, Shahre-Kord, Iran ICHTHYOSIFORM dermatosis (fish scale disease) consists of a heterogeneous group of hereditary disorders characterised by the accumulation of large amounts of scales on the cutaneous surface (Scott 1988). Ichthyosis has been reported in cattle, swine, llamas, dogs, mice, chickens and human beings (Baker and Ward 1985, Belknap and Dunstan 1990, Yager and Scott 1993). Suggested pathogenetic mechanisms include increased hyperplasia of the stratum basale and epidermal turnover time, increased adhesiveness of the stratum corneum cells, or failure of normal separation and alteration of lipid metabolism (Scott 1988). Two clinical forms of ichthyosis have been recognised in cattle. The severe form, ichthyosis fetalis (bovine harlequin fetus) has been reported in Norwegian red poll, English Friesian and Swiss brown calves (Scott 1988, Angarano 1993, Yager and Scott 1993). Affected calves are stillborn or die within a few hours or days of birth (Scott 1988, Angarano 1993). Ichthyosis congenita is a milder clinical form reported in Jerseys, Pinzgauer, Chianina and Holstein-Friesians (Yager and Scott 1993). Affected calves are born with, or develop over the course of several weeks, variable degrees of generalised hyperkeratosis and alopecia (Scott 1988, Angarano 1993). This condition may be associated with microtia, cataracts and thyroid abnormalities (Yager and Scott 1993). Both forms of ichthyosis in cattle are inherited as simple autosomal recessive traits (Scott 1988, Angarano 1993). In June 2000, a two-day-old Holstein native cross bull calf with diffuse hyperkeratosis was referred to the veterinary clinic at Shahre-Kord Azad University. The animal had been born to a normal first-calf heifer as result of artificial insemination. No congenital defects similar to the present case were known to the owner. Physical examination revealed a depressed calf with a body temperature of 38-9°C, a pulse rate of 120 beats per minute, a respiratory rate of 36 breaths per minute, a periodic drop in respirations (Cheyne-Stokes respiration) and mild hyperaemic mucous membranes. The entire cutaneous surface was covered by irregular hyperkeratotic plates. Hair was present but trapped in the hyperkeratotic scales. The skin of the inguinal region (Fig 1), face, eyelids and pinnae were the most severely affected areas. In these areas the skin was thick, partially alopecic and had lost its normal pliability. Over the remainder of the body, the hair appeared to be normal. Haematological analysis revealed a packed-cell volume of 34 per cent (normal range 24 to 46 per cent), 12-8 x 109 white blood cells (wBcs)/litre (normal range 4 to 12 x 109 wBcs/litre), 10-8 x 109 neutrophils/litre (normal range 0-6 to 4 x 109 neutrophils/litre), 1-8 x 109 lymphocytes/litre (normal range 2-5 to 7-5 x 109 lymphocytes/litre) and 0-26 x 109 monocytes/litre (normal range 0-025 to 0-84 x 109 monocytes/litre). A skin biopsy specimen was obtained surgically, fixed in formalin and prepared for light microscopic examination. The major histopathological feature was excess compact orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis involving the surface of the epidermis and follicular epithelia. Hypergranulosis was also seen in the affected areas of the skin (Fig 2). Enlargement of hair follicles was associated with hypertrophy and hyperplasia of external root sheath's cells with orthokeratosis of internal root sheath. Despite keratin plugging of the follicular infundibula, most of the hairs were preFIG 1: Hyperkeratosis in the inguinal region of a two-day-old Holstein native cross bull calf