Clinicopathological insights into canine Demodicosis: A diagnostic perspective

Abstract

A clinicopathological study was undertaken to document the clinical signs, lesion distribution, and histopathological changes in dogs affected with generalized demodicosis. Fourteen dogs diagnosed based on clinical examination and detection of Demodex mites in deep skin scrapings were included in the study. The most consistent clinical signs observed were erythema and alopecia (100%), followed by pustules and facial alopecia (71.4%), crusts (64.2%), and scaling, hyperkeratosis, and periocular alopecia (42.8%). Hyperpigmentation, furunculosis, and comedones were observed less frequently. Lesions were predominantly distributed on the cheeks and neck (78.5%), followed by the face, head, forelimbs, and ventral abdomen. Histopathological examination of skin biopsies revealed intrafollicular Demodex mites, mural folliculitis, perifolliculitis, parakeratotic hyperkeratosis, and epidermal hyperpigmentation. The findings of the study demonstrate a strong correlation between clinical manifestations and histopathological alterations in canine demodicosis and emphasize the importance of combined clinical and histopathological evaluation for accurate diagnosis and better understanding of disease pathogenesis.