Cutaneous mucinosis in a Shar pei dog: Case report

Abstract

Cutaneous mucinosis is a primary idiopathic dermatopathy that occurs in dogs of the Shar pei breed, characterized by excessive deposition of mucin in the dermis that leads to the presentation of skin folds, and in more severe cases the formation of vesicles or blisters. Hyaluronic acid has been identified as the main component of mucin, however the etiopathogenesis, prevention and treatment of this disease have not yet been fully elucidated. This paper reports a 3-year-old Shar pei dog, diagnosed with cutaneous mucinosis. On physical examination, multiple vesicles containing transparent and viscous fluid and hypotrichosis were observed in the ventral region of the neck, armpits, bilateral flank, perianal and in the distal portion of the limbs. In the pelvic limbs there was also the presence of edema. The affected skin was swollen, thickened and negative at Godet's sign. Blood tests, scrapes and skin cytology were performed. Blood tests did not show any significant alterations, as well as scraping and skin cytology showed negative results. Based on these results, it was decided to perform a skin biopsy and histopathological analysis. Intense and diffuse myxomatous edema was observed, mainly in the most superficial and perianexal region, with the formation of mucin lakes, confirming the diagnosis. For treatment, prednisolone was prescribed at a dose of 1 mg / kg every 24 hours, for 7 days, reducing the dose until the drug was discontinued in 30 days. After 21 days of treatment, the patient had complete resolution of the lesions and itching. It was possible to conclude that cutaneous mucinosis is an exclusive dermatopathy of dogs of the Shar pei breed due to the intense genetic selection throughout the breed's history. The impact of high hyaluronic acid synthesis on the phenotype of these dogs is only partially known. In this way, many other sites and systemic effects of hyaluronic acid still need to be understood since this glycosaminoglycan is synthesized by several cells and can be found in various tissues and body fluids with varying concentrations.Hyaluronic acid, dogs, dermatopathy, mucin