Impairment of neutrophil functions in a dog with an eosinophilic dermatosis

• Published in: Acta veterinaria scandinavica Vol. 32; no. 4; pp. 519 - 526
• Main Authors: Thomsen, M K, Jensen, A L, Bindseil, E, Kristensen, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central 01.01.1991
• Subjects: Animals; Cells, Cultured; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; Dog Diseases - immunology; Dogs; Eosinophilia - immunology; Eosinophilia - veterinary; Male; Neutrophils - immunology; Phagocytosis; Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous - immunology; Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous - veterinary
• ISSN: 0044-605X; 1751-0147; 1751-0147
• DOI: 10.1186/BF03546953

An eosinophilic dermatosis was diagnosed in a dog with a multifocal distribution of pruritic, pustular and erosive lesions on the trunk. Ectoparasites, fungi and bacteria were not detected in the skin of the dog. At a subsequent admission to the university clinic, bacterial conjunctivitis and superficial pyoderma had developed. At a time when the dog received no medical therapy, evaluation of phagocytosis and chemotactic migration towards a variety of chemotactic factors revealed a general suppression of patient neutrophil responsiveness, as compared to a control dog. Viability of the patient's neutrophils was normal. It was proposed that deactivation of neutrophil functions occurred following exposure to suppressive factors from mast cells, or as a consequence of surface receptor down-regulation due to prolonged cell activation by as yet unknown stimulants. The observed susceptibility to infections in the dog suffering from a primary, sterile eosinophilic dermatosis may be related to impaired host defence against opportunistic microorganisms.