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Porcine ulcerative dermatitis syndrome in sows: a form of vesicular cutaneous lupus erythematosus?

¹ Department of Obstetrics, Reproduction and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
² Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
³ Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
⁴ Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Postfach, Länggassstrasse 122,3001 Berne, Switzerland

Correspondence: Email for correspondence: alfonso.lopezrodriguez{at}ugent.be

Severe ulcerative lesions were observed in the skin of two sows in a herd of 540 hybrid sows. Annular to polycyclic, severe crusting dermal ulcerations were found on the abdomen and flanks; moderate lesions were also found at the base of the tail and on the perineum. The lesions were histologically characterised as cell-poor interface dermatitis and folliculitis, basal cell vacuolisation, vesicle formation at the dermal-epidermal junction and serocellular crusts. A subepidermal mild to moderate band, characterised as a mixed inflammatory infiltrate, was present. A test for antinuclear antibodies was negative; however, immunofluorescence testing revealed a linear pattern of IgG precipitation in the skin. Staphylococcus hyicus was demonstrated in the serocellular crusts of one sow. Treatment with antibiotics, topical antiseptics and corticosteroids did not improve the sows' condition. Porcine circovirus and porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus were not isolated from samples taken at postmortem examination. The observed gross lesions, the absence of response to treatment and the exclusion of other skin diseases suggested that the sows were affected with porcine ulcerative dermatitis syndrome.