A connective tissue disease of the skin in a foal similiar to the human Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Eine dem Ehlers-Danlos Syndrom des Menschen ähnliche Bindegewebserkrankung der Haut bei einem Fohlen

Winter T, Börgel C, Aupperle H, Schoon H-A

DOI: 10.21836/PEM20040103
Year: 2004
Volume: 20
Issue: 1
Pages: 19-22

The Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (E-D S) in man is an inherited disease of collagen connective tissue of the skin which is also described in animals. Skin biopsies of a six days old female Oldenburger foal with the clinical signs of fragile and hyperextensive skin were investigated by the use of light microscopical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural techniques. The results of histopathology revealed an irregular structure of collagen fibres which showed subepidermal fragmented ”fibre plaques” and subcutaneous slender ”fibre cords”. In the polarisation light of the picrosirius-red-stain the ”fibre plaques” represented an increased amount of collagen type I while the ”fibre cords” showed an increased amount of collagen type III. Electronmicroscopic examination showed some normal sized fibrilles (approx. 140 nm in diameter) and also irregular fragmented ”fibrillar plaques” (size: 240x350 nm) and slender ”fibrillar cords” (varying from 90 to 180 nm in diameter). In the area of numerous subcutaneous veins a severe panelastofibrosis, containing an increased amount of collagen type III, was present. In the light of the present results, it has been concluded, that this case is an example of a rare, probably idiopathic ”E-D S like disease“ in a foal.