212 DISC

Veterinary Dermatology 2001, 12, 1927

Ulcerative dermatosis of the Shetland sheepdog and

rough collie dog may represent a novel vesicular variant
of cutaneous lupus erythematosus
H. A. JACKSON and T. OLIVRY
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh NC
27606, USA
(Received 25 June 1999; accepted 24 February 2000)

Abstract A syndrome of ulcerative dermatitis (UDSSC) previously has been described as unique to the
Shetland sheepdog and rough collie dog. The pathogenesis of this disease is poorly understood and it has been
suggested that it may be a variant of canine dermatomyositis (DM) which is also seen in these breeds.
Information on the clinical presentation and previous medical history was collected from ve Shetland
sheepdogs and three rough collie dogs previously diagnosed with UDSSC. Characteristic features of the
disease were adult onset in the summer months with annular, polycyclic and serpiginous ulcerations
distributed over sparsely haired areas of the body. Skin biopsies taken from active lesions were compared in a
blinded fashion with histological sections from seven Shetland sheepdogs and one rough collie with DM.
Dermatomyositis was characterized histologically as a cell poor interface dermatitis associated with follicular
atrophy. In contrast, the lesional pattern of UDSSC is that of a lymphocyte-rich interface dermatitis and
folliculitis with vesiculation at the dermalepidermal junction. The authors conclude that these represent two
distinct diseases and that UDSSC may be a vesicular form of cutaneous lupus erythematosus seen in the adult
rough collie dog and Shetland sheepdog.

Ahed
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Keywords: canine, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis.

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INTRODUCTION
A syndrome of ulcerative dermatitis has previously
been described as unique to the Shetland sheepdog and
rough collie dog breeds (UDSSC). Dogs clinically
aected with ulcerative skin disease are reported to be
adults and are described as developing a visually
distinctive disease characterized by serpiginous ulcerations and erosions of the groin and axillae which can
progress to involve the mucocutaneous junctions, oral
cavity and footpads.1 The pathogenesis of this disease
is poorly understood and it has been suggested that it
may be a variant of canine derma-tomyositis (DM)
which is an hereditary disease in these dog breeds.2 In
contrast DM is characterized by a cicatricial alopecia
of the face, limbs and extremities preceded by papules,
vesicles and erythema. Some aected animals have a
concurrent myositis.3
Dermatomyositis in man may be of juvenile or
adult onset. Although rare, dermatitis in the absence
of muscle disease has been described. Clinically, it is
characterized by pruritus and a symmetrical macular
erythema involving the pressure points and periorbital areas. Weakness is associated with skeletal muscle

Correspondence: H. A. Jackson, North Carolina State University,

College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh
NC 27606, USA
# 2001 Blackwell Science Ltd

involvement. A signicant proportion of patients

will present initially with only cutaneous clinical
signs, although muscle disease usually develops later.
Under these circumstances it is prognostically important to rule out other connective tissue disorders.
One of the main dierential diagnoses is subacute
cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE).4
The distribution of cutaneous lesions in man diers
between DM and SCLE. In DM the disease is
characterized by a symmetrical pruritic erythematous
macular and papular eruption progressing to
atrophic macules and plaques over the joints of the
limbs and periorbital area. Dermatitis usually precedes myositis. Photosensitivity is not a consistent
feature. By contrast, in SCLE the erythematous
papulosquamous eruption is less pruritic and is
distributed over the malar eminences sparing the
periorbital skin and, when the hands and feet are
involved, it typically spares the skin over the joints.4
Photosensitivity is a feature of SCLE. Histologically,
both diseases can appear similar although DM is
associated with a vasculitis.5 Further dierentiation
relies on direct immunouorescence testing of the
skin and serum autoantibody proles.
We hypothesize that ulcerative dermatosis of Shetland sheepdogs and collies is clinically and histologically distinct from dermatomyositis in the same breeds
of dog and furthermore, may represent a vesicular variant of canine cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE).
19

212 DISC
20

H. A. Jackson and T. Olivry

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ulcerative dermatosis of Shetland sheepdogs and rough
collie dogs
Information on the clinical signs and medical history
was collected from ve Shetland sheepdogs and three
rough collie dogs previously diagnosed with UDSSC.
Two of these cases were seen by one of the authors
(HAJ), and in the remaining cases clinical material
was supplied by veterinary colleagues along with a
completed detailed questionnaire. One or more
histological sections taken from an active lesion in
each case were also reviewed.
Dermatomyositis
Histological sections from seven Shetland sheepdogs
and one rough collie dog with DM were examined for
comparison. These tissue specimens were previously
examined by either a board certied veterinary
dermatologist or pathologist and had not been
previously examined by the authors. Inclusion
criteria for this group included: the breed and a
clinical description of alopecia and/or erythema of
the face, limbs and distal extremities.
Histological examination
Twenty-eight skin biopsy slides (10 DM, 18 UDSSC)
from 12 dogs were stained with haematoxylin and
eosin and reviewed. The slides were blinded by a third
party and examined by both authors. Microscopic
features were graded as follows: lymphocytic interface dermatitis and lymphocytic interface mural
folliculitis: absent (0), mild (1), moderate (2) or
marked (3). Grade (1) was characterized by infrequent single cell necrosis and vacuolation at the
dermalepidermal junction with a sparse lymphocytic
inltrate. In sections graded as (3) the single cell
necrosis and vacuolation was abundant and the
inltrate rich in lymphocytes. Grade (2) was intermediate. This was further categorized as cell poor
(score 1) and cell rich (scores 2 & 3). Follicular

atrophy and vesiculation at the dermalepidermal

junction was noted as present or absent.
Examination of skeletal muscle, if present in the
section, was not performed. It was excluded on the
basis that abnormal ndings in this tissue would bias
the authors in favour of a diagnosis of DM.
Comparison between each histological feature was
achieved utilizing Fisher's exact test and signicance
was noted at the level of P = 0.05.
RESULTS
Clinical ndings
The mean age of onset of clinical signs in UDSSC was 5
years (range 38). Females were over-represented in
this case series (6/8). In 7/8 dogs the onset of disease
was in the summer months (between June and September) and no consistent temporal association with
vaccination or any other therapeutic agent was noted.
None of these dogs had a previous history of DM.
All dogs presented with ulceration on the ventral
abdomen, axillae, groin and medial thighs (Figs 1 and
2). Additional ulceration was noted on the mucocutaneous junctions (6/8), concave aspect of the pinnae
(5/8) and oral cavity (3/8). Consistent abnormalities
on physical examination at presentation, other than
the dermatological lesions, were not noted. Dog No.
5 developed a painful bilateral periocular swelling 3
weeks after initiation of treatment with immunosuppressive doses of prednisone. A thorough ocular
examination was performed by an ophthalmologist
and no abnormalities were detected. Further investigation was not pursued and the swelling subsided
with the introduction of azathioprine to the therapeutic regime. Periocular myositis or cellulitis were
considered as possible dierential diagnoses for this
clinical presentation. Dog No. 6 presented with
septicaemia attributed directly to the severity of
cutaneous ulceration. Myiasis was also a secondary

Figure I Ventral distribution of

ulcerations in a rough collie with
UDSSC.
# 2001 Blackwell Science Ltd, Veterinary Dermatology, 12, 1927

212 DISC
Vesicular lupus in rough collies and Shelties

21

Figure 2 Annular, polycyclic and

serpiginous ulcerations in UDSSC.

complication. This dog required hospitalization and

intensive care. The severity and extent of the
cutaneous ulceration had not been appreciated due
to the length and density of the dog's haircoat. In two
other cases colonization of the skin by gram negative
organisms was demonstrated by cytological examination and conrmed with bacterial culture.
Laboratory ndings
Three dogs presented with an absolute neutrophilia
with a left shift; in the septicaemic dog this was
degenerative. Serum biochemical analysis was generally unremarkable, mild elevations in serum alkaline phosphatase (four dogs) and serum alanine
aminotransferase (two dogs) were presumed to reect
known previous corticosteroid therapy. Two dogs
were mildly hypoproteinaemic.
Urinalysis was reported in four cases, in each
instance granular casts were present and in two out of
four these were associated with the presence of large
numbers of white blood cells.
Antinuclear antibody titres were considered negative in all cases where it was performed (n = 7).
Laboratory evaluation was not available for dog No.
7. A summary of the case details are presented in
Table 1.
Skin biopsy ndings
Twenty-eight skin biopsies were reviewed. Two were
considered nondiagnostic for either UDSSC or DM.
In three cases the authors disagreed as to the nal
diagnosis. In the remaining 23 cases (82%) the
authors' histological diagnosis concurred with the
combined clinical and histological diagnosis previously given. The histological features present in
each disease are summarized in Table 2 and
illustrated in Figs 36.
Follicular atrophy and a cell poor interface
dermatitis were seen more commonly in DM than
in UDSSC (P 5 0.001, P 5 0.0001, respectively). In

contrast, a cell rich interface dermatitis (P 5 0.0001)

and vesiculation at the dermal epidermal junction
(P 5 0.05) were features of UDSSC. Similar ndings
were present for the lymphocytic interface mural
folliculitis (P 5 0.006).
DISCUSSION
The breed specicity of these two diseases supports an
hereditary predisposition, however, it is our opinion
that the historical, clinical and histological features
are consistent with two separate disease entities.
Initial characterization of canine DM indicates
that there is a denite familial tendency with an
autosomal dominant component at least in the rough
collie dog.6 The typical age of onset is between 7
weeks and 6 months of age in these breeds although
the onset of disease in adulthood has been recognized. The cutaneous signs are characterized by
erythema, transient vesicles, ulceration and cicatricial
alopecia distributed over the bony prominences of
limbs, distal extremities, lips, periocular and facial
skin and the concave aspect of the pinnae.3 The
severity of the dermatitis and accompanying myositis
can vary amongst individuals. Sunlight may exacerbate existing cutaneous lesions.
The pathogenesis of canine DM has been debated
and a viral or autoimmune pathophysiology proposed, although the possibility of both mechanisms
being involved must be entertained.7,8 On histopathological examination a subtle vasculitis is noted in
some sections and it is proposed that the follicular
atrophy, which was a consistent feature in our series,
is a consequence of an ischaemic vasculopathy.9
A role for complement mediated microvascular
injury has been demonstrated in DM in man, and
further substantiated by immunouorescent studies
showing the membrane attack complex of complement (C5b-9) in the walls of the dermal endothelium.5
# 2001 Blackwell Science Ltd, Veterinary Dermatology, 12, 1927

212 DISC
22

H. A. Jackson and T. Olivry

Table 1. Case summary: UDSSC

Age/month onset
Area USA
Breed/gender
Skin lesions

Concurrent
physical ndings
Urinalysis

Laboratory
abnormalities
ANA
Coombs
RF
% indoor
Last vaccination

Case 1

Case 2

Case 3

Case 4

8 years
August
North Carolina
Sheltie
M
Ulceration. Oral,
preputial,
labial commisures,
ventral abdomen
Assymetric testes
eas
WBC, protein

5 years
September
New York
Sheltie
FS
Ulceration
Axillae, groin, ventral
abdomen
Footpad hyperkeratosis
1 years chronic degenerative
polyarthropathy
Granular hyaline casts
in urine.
Protein 1+

4 years
July
Oregon
Sheltie
FS
Ulceration
inguinal, axillae
Concave pinnae
Mucocutaneous junctions.
N/R

6 years
June
Texas (moved from North)
Sheltie
FS
Ulceration ventral abdomen
periorbital, perilabial. Spread
to involve dorsum and
footpads
N/R

Granular casts

N/R

N/R

Mild elevation ALT & AP

neg
neg
neg
100%
February/rabies

neg

neutrophila with left shift.

Basophilia, regenerative
anaemia, elevated AP,
hypoprotein-aemia
neg

90%
16 months previously

90%
June after onset disease.
Rabies & DHLPP

Case 5

Case 6

Case 7

Case 8

7 years
February
Virginia
Sheltie
M
Ulceration, vesicles
inguinal, axillae
concave pinnae
Muzzle, oral

5 years
July
North Carolina
rough collie
F
Ulceration, vesicles
Inguinal, axillae
concave pinnae
Mucocutaneous
al, interdigital
weight loss
Myiasis, fever
lyphadenopathy septicaemia
N/R

3 years
August
California
rough collie
FS
Ulceration
Inguinal, axillae,
axillae, inguinal

3 years
July
North Carolina
rough collie
FS
Ulceration
Periocular, mucocutaneous,

N/A

N/R

N/A

N/R

N/R

Lymphopaenia
neutrophilia with left shift

Amorphous casts.
UPC 0.8
N/R

neg
N/R
Fully vaccinated
date unknown

Table 1. continued
Age/month onset
Area USA
Breed/gender
Skin lesions
Concave pinnae
Concurrent
physical ndings
Urinalysis
Lab abnormalities

ANA
Coombs
% indoor
Last vaccination

Developed periocular
swelling on treatment
-unknown cause
Epithelial cells
WBC
Granular casts
neutrophilia with left shift Non-regen. anaemia
Eosinophilia
neutrophilia with toxic
left shift
Mild elevation AP
lymphopaenia
& ALT
hypoproteinaemia
neg
neg
neg 4, 25, 37 8C
0%
0%
3 months prior to onset: After onset disease
DHLPP

Mild elevation AP
N/R

neg

N/R
N/R

0%
N/R

UPC = urine protein/creatinine ratio

WBC = white blood cells, N/R = information not reported
ALT = alanine aminotransferase, AP = alkaline phophatase
ANA = antinuclear antibody, neg = negative
RF = rheumatoid factor, M = male, F = female, FS = female spayed
DHLPP = Distemper, hepatitis, leptospira, parvovirus and parainuenza vaccine.
Absolute values are not given as dierent laboratories were used

In humans, a genetic basis is supported by the

association of certain histocompatibility types with
disease occurrence, but it is probable that exposure to
environmental agents is required for disease develop# 2001 Blackwell Science Ltd, Veterinary Dermatology, 12, 1927

ment. In this context, the picornaviruses have come

under scrutiny. Firstly, the clinical course of juvenile
onset DM in humans has been associated with a
signicant titre to complement xing Coxsackie B

212 DISC
Vesicular lupus in rough collies and Shelties

23

Table 2. The incidence of specic histological features in each disease

Follicular atrophy
DM
(n = 10)
UDSSC
(n = 18)

Vesicles at DEJ

Interface dermatitis score

1
2
3

Interface folliculitis score

1
2
3

9{

1*

4*

1*

0*

1*

2{

10*

0*

9*

8*

11*

*Signicant at P 5 0.05, {Signicant at P 5 0.001

DEJ dermalepidermal junction.
For an explanation of the interface dermatitis and folliculitis scoring system please see text.

Figure 3 Cell-rich interface dermatitis

UDSSC (H & E666).

Figure 4 Cell-poor interface dermatitis

DM (H & E666).

virus antibody but secondly, and more intriguing, is

the proposed association with a murine picornavirus,
the encephalomyocarditis virus.10 Sequence homology between virus RNA and the myositis associated
antigen Jo-1, an RNA synthetase, makes this a logical
candidate to consider in the pathogenesis of this
disease.11 In support of this hypothesis Hargis

(1986)12 found picornavirus-like structures in muscle

tissue from aected dogs post-mortem.
The current nomenclature and classication of
lupus diseases in man remains a matter of debate.13
Broadly, cutaneous manifestations of lupus can be
divided into lupus specic and lupus nonspecic skin
diseases with or without systemic involvement.
# 2001 Blackwell Science Ltd, Veterinary Dermatology, 12, 1927

212 DISC
24

H. A. Jackson and T. Olivry

Figure 5 Cell-poor interface dermatitis
and follicular atrophy DM (H &
E633)

Figure 6 Dermalepidermal vesiculation

UDSSC (H & E640)

Further division of the lupus specic diseases can be

made based on clinical and histological criteria and
dened by the pattern and deposition of immunoreactants present. Circulating extractable nuclear
antigens are also recognized and play a signicant
part in dening the subset of lupus present. The
importance of this distinction lies not only in
conrming a diagnosis but can also provide prognostic information such as whether a particular
patient is at risk of developing lupus-associated renal
disease.14 The histological pattern common to this
group of diseases is an interface dermatitis and
folliculitis with apoptosis of individual basilar keratinocytes. Dermalepidermal separation is a particular feature of the annular variant of subacute
cutaneous lupus (SCLE).15
Subacute cutaneous lupus is characterized by a
cutaneous eruption on skin exposed to ultraviolet
radiation (UVR).16 It is rarely associated with
# 2001 Blackwell Science Ltd, Veterinary Dermatology, 12, 1927

systemic involvement. In addition, it has been

demonstrated that cutaneous lesions can be induced
by ultraviolet light exposure in previously unexposed
skin.17 Although the exact pathogenesis of UVR
damage in SCLE is not clear, it is known that UVB
can induce cell damage and cytokine release possibly
leading to the exposure of novel intracellular antigens
on the surface of keratinocytes. Apoptosis is a
histological feature of SCLE. It is a process by which
ecient removal of damaged cells can occur invoking
minimal inammation. The extent and distribution of
apoptotic cells may reect the nature and source of
the initial insult, in this case UVR.
To date, the classication of canine lupus diseases
is less rened and has been broadly divided into
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and discoid
lupus erythematosus (DLE). Canine SLE may have
cutaneous signs in approximately 40% of cases and a
positive antinuclear antibody titre (ANA) whereas

212 DISC
Vesicular lupus in rough collies and Shelties
DLE is not associated with systemic manifestations
and the ANA titre is negative.18 An interface
dermatitis is characteristic of both these diseases, in
DLE the inltrate is more lichenoid in nature.2,9
Many clinicians however, recognize cutaneous diseases with histological features of lupus erythematosus which do not t into the above canine
classication system (personal observation).
Although UDSSC has histological features which
support lupus, we did not nd consistent clinical or
clinicopathological evidence which supported a diagnosis of SLE. The reporting of granular casts in the
urinalysis in four cases, however, should not be
overlooked. This may be indicative of renal tubular
disease and warrants further investigation. Since the
urine sediment analysis was performed at dierent
laboratories and no specic quantitative evaluation
was reported, it is not possible to interpret this
nding further. None of the aected dogs presented
with clinical signs attributable to concurrent myositis,
therefore no additional diagnostic evaluation was
performed. The absence of clinical signs however,
may not rule out subclinical muscle disease because
some dogs with DM muscle abnormalities were only
supported by demonstration of electromyographic
abnormalities.3
The onset of clinical signs in the summer months in
7/8 cases and the distribution of the cutaneous lesions
over thinly-haired areas in these plush-coated breeds
support a role for photoinitiation if not photoaggravation. Additionally, it is interesting to note that
in two cases which were followed for more than 12
months, the disease went into remission over the
winter and ared up again in the early summer.
Furthermore, colonization of the skin by gramnegative bacteria and development of septicaemia in
this severe ulcerating skin disease have life-threatening consequences.
There are no specic clinicopathological features
associated with canine DM. An inammatory leukogram may be present in the early stages and
chronically, a nonregenerative anaemia, hyperglobulinaemia and monocytosis might be seen. Urinalysis is
reportedly unremarkable. Antinuclear antibody titres
and rheumatoid factors are typically negative
although weak positive results may be seen with the
Coombs test.19 The same investigators demonstrated
high concentrations of circulating immune complexes
(CIC) of the IgG class in moderately and severely
aected dogs. The signicance of CIC in this disease
is not known. They may arise as a consequence of
chronic inammatory disease or alternatively can be
central to the disease pathogenesis. If canine DM is
associated with a complement mediated vasculopathy, as is the case in man, then evidence of
microvascular immunoglobulin and complement deposition in lesional tissue must be demonstrated.
These studies are currently being undertaken by the
authors and may further substantiate the distinction
between canine DM and UDSSC.

25

The distinction between a cell rich and cell poor

interface dermatitis on histological sections was
useful in this study to dierentiate between DM
and UDSSC in these breeds of dog. It is possible,
however, that the nature of the inltrate could reect
the timing of the biopsy. Most cases of DM are
insidious in onset and skin biopsies are typically
taken during the chronic phase of the disease. An
astute clinician, collecting biopsies at an earlier time,
might see a more cell-rich interface dermatitis and
may also see direct evidence of vasculitis. Ulcerative
dermatosis of the Shetland sheepdog and rough collie
dog, on the other hand, is an acute severe disease and
biopsies are more likely to be performed in the active
phase of the disease.
In summary, in the Shetland sheepdog and rough
collie dog, DM is typically a disease of the juvenile
dog. Cutaneous lesions consist of erythema and
ulceration progressing to cicatricial alopecia and
hypopigmentation. Lesions are distributed over
pressure points of the face and limbs and often
involve the periocular and pinnal skin. Myositis is a
common, but not consistent, development. UDSSC
however, invariably develops in adulthood and
appears to have a seasonal onset with most cases
being seen in the summer months. This observation,
and the distribution of lesions over sparsely haired
areas support a role for ultraviolet radiation in the
pathogenesis of the disease. The primary lesion is a
transient vesicle or bulla which may only be
appreciated in histological sections of early lesions
as they rupture readily to manifest as annular,
polycyclic or serpiginous ulceration. The lesions are
typically distributed over the groin, axillae, ventral
abdomen and often involve the mucocutaneous
junctions and concave aspects of the pinnae.
There are no specic routine laboratory ndings in
either disease although the presence of granular casts
in the urine of some dogs aected with UDSSC
should be further investigated. Additionally, electromyographic studies should be performed on dogs
presented with UDSSC to determine whether there is
subclinical muscle involvement.
Histological features in conjunction with the
clinical presentation are useful in dierentiating these
two diseases. Dermatomyositis is characterized by
follicular atrophy, a cell-poor interface dermatitis
and folliculitis, whereas UDSSC is characterized by a
cell-rich interface dermatitis and folliculitis. Vesiculation at the dermoepidermal junction and follicular
atrophy is uncommon.
Finally, the clinical and histological similarities
between UDSSC and SCLE in man lead the authors
to propose that UDSSC may represent a vesicular
variant of cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Further
immunological studies are currently underway to
investigate the probability of a dierent pathogenesis
in these two diseases, namely, an immune complex
vasculitis in DM and anti-keratinocyte autoimmunity
in vesicular CLE.
# 2001 Blackwell Science Ltd, Veterinary Dermatology, 12, 1927

212 DISC
26

H. A. Jackson and T. Olivry

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to thank the following
colleagues for providing case information and/or
histological slides.: T. DeManuelle, C. Rees, D.
Gram, M. Rosenbaum, T. L. Gross, R. Dunstan, B.
Sigmon and P. Luther.
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Shetland Sheepdogs and Collies. Kirk's Current
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2. Gross, T.L., Ihrke, P.J., Walder, E.J. Veterinary
Dermatopathology: A macroscopic and microscopic
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3. Hargis, A.M., Mundell, A.C. Familial canine
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4. Kovacs, S.O., Kovacs, S.C. Dermatomyositis. Journal
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7. Schmeitzel, L.P. Dermatomyositis: an immune
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8. Kunkle, G.A. Canine dermatomyositis: a disease with
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9. Yager, J.A., Wilcox, B.P. Colour Atlas and Text of

Surgical Pathology of the Dog and Cat:
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Resume Un syndrome de dermatose ulcerative (UDSSC) a ete rapporte dans la litterature chez les Shetlands
et les Collie. La pathogenie de cette maladie est mal comprise, et il a ete suggere qu'il pourrait s'agir d'une
variante de dermatomyosite canine (DM), qui est egalement rencontree preferentiellement dans ces races. Des
donnees relatives aux symptomes et a l'anamnese ont ete obtenues pour cinq Shetland et trois Collie sourant
d'UDSSC. Les aspects caracteristiques de cette maladie regroupaient l'apparition des lesions a l'age adulte,
pendant les mois d'ete, des lesions ulcerees, annulaires, polycycliques et serpiginees, localisees au niveau des
zones peu velues. Des biopsies cutanees, obtenues au niveau de lesions evolutives, furent comparees a l'aveugle
avec des sections histologiques de sept Shetland et d'un Colley sourant de DM. La dermatomyosite etait
caracterisee sur le plan histologique par une dermatite d'interface pauvre en cellules, associee avec une
atrophie folliculaire. A l'oppose, la modalite de reaction cutanee observee pour les cas d'UDSSC etait
caracterisee par une dermatite lymphocytaire d'interface et des images de folliculite, avec une vesiculation au
niveau de la jonction dermo-epidermique. Les auteurs concluent qu'il s'agit de deux maladies dierentes, et
que l'UDSSC pourrait representer une variante vesiculeuse de lupus erythemateux cutane chez les Collie et les
Shetland adultes. [Olivry, T. und Jackson, H. A. Ulcerative dermatosis of the Shetland sheepdog and rough
collie dog may represent a novel vesicular variant of cutaenous lupus erythematosus. (La dermatose ulcerative
des Shetlands et des Collie pourrait representer une forme vesiculeuse nouvelle de lupus erythemateux cutane.)
Veterinary Dermatology 2001; 12: 1927.]

# 2001 Blackwell Science Ltd, Veterinary Dermatology, 12, 1927

212 DISC
Vesicular lupus in rough collies and Shelties

27

Resumen Se ha descrito anteriormente un s ndrome de dermatitis ulcerativa (UDSSC) como unico en el

perro pastor de Shetland y del rough collie. La patogenesis de esta enfermedad no se comprende en su
totalidad y se ha sugerido que podr a ser una variante de la dermatomiositis canina (DM), que se observa
tambien en estas razas. Se recopilo informacion sobre la presentacion cl nica e historia medica previa de cinco
Shetland y tres rough collies previamente diagnosticados con UDSSC. Fueron caracter sticas de la
enfermedad la presentacion en edad adulta durante los meses de verano con ulceraciones serpiginosas,
anulares y polic clicas distribuidas en areas corporales con poco pelaje. Se compararon biopsias cutaneas de
areas activas de forma ciega con secciones histologicas de siete Shetland y un rough collie con DM. La
dermatomiositis se caracterizaba histologicamente por una dermatitis de la union pobre en celulas asociada
con atroa folicular. En contraste, el patron lesional de la UDSSC es una dermatitis linfoc tica de la union rica
en celulas y una foliculitis con vesiculacion en la union dermo-epidermica. Los autores concluyen que estas
representan dos enfermedades diferenciadas y que la UDSSC puede ser una forma vesicular del lupus
eritematoso cutaneo observado en el rough collie adulto y en el perro pastor de Shetland. [Olivry, T. y
Jackson, H. A. Ulcerative dermatosis of the Shetland sheepdog and rough collie dog may represent a novel
vesicular variant of cutaenous lupus erythematosus. (La dermatosis ulcerativa del perro pastor de Shetland y
del rough collie puede representar una nueva variante vesicular del lupus eritematoso cutaneo.) Veterinary
Dermatology 2001; 12: 1927.]
Zusammenfassung Ein durch ulzerative Hautentzundung gekennzeichnetes Syndrom (UDSSC) wurde bisher
als eine ausschliesslich bei Shelties und Collies vorkommende Erkrankung beschrieben. Die Pathogenese
dieser Krankheit ist unklar, sie wurde als eine mogliche Variante von kaniner Dermatomyositis (DM), die
ebenfalls bei diesen Rassen auftritt, betrachtet. Anamnestische und klinische Befunde von funf Shelties und
drei Collies, bei denen UDSSC diagnostiziert wurde, wurden ausgewertet. Charakteristisch fur die
Erkrankung waren Krankheitsbeginn bei ausgewachsenen Hunden in den Sommermonaten mit
ringformigen, polyzyklischen und schlangenformigen Geschwurbildungen in sparlich behaarten
Korpergegenden. Hautbiopsien von aktiven Lasionen wurden in einer Blindstudie mit histologischen
Schnitten von sieben Shelties und einem Collie mit DM verglichen. Dermatomyositis war histologisch durch
zellarme Entzundung der dermoepidermalen Grenzzone mit follikularer Atrophie gekennzeichnet.
Demgegenuber zeigt UDSSC eine an Lymphozyten reiche Entzundung der Grenzzone zwischen Dermis
und Epidermis oder Haarfollikelepithel mit Vesikelbildung. Die Autoren schliessen daraus, dass es sich um
zwei verschiedene Krankheiten handelt und dass UDSSC eine vesikulare Form von kutanem Lupus
erythematodes sein konnte, die bei ausgewachsenen Collies und Shelties vorkommt. [Olivry, T. und Jackson,
H. A. Ulcerative dermatosis of the Shetland sheepdog and rough collie dog may represent a novel vesicular
variant of cutaenous lupus erythematosus. (Ulzerative Dermatose der Shelties und Collies konnte eine neue
vesikulare Variante des kutanen Lupus erythematodes darstellen.) Veterinary Dermatology 2001; 12: 1927.]

# 2001 Blackwell Science Ltd, Veterinary Dermatology, 12, 1927