Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica in a goat kid

INTRODUCTION: In a dairy herd of Thuringian Forest goats, a male goat kid of around three weeks of age was detected with skin lesions, particularly on the distal limbs, chest and ears. These skin lesions were characterized by alopecia, pus-filled blisters, incrustations and erosions. The goat kid was referred to the clinic for treatment but had to be euthanized despite intensive treatment due to increasing deterioration in its general condition and was subsequently referred to necropsy. Histologic investigation of the altered areas of skin and mucosa revealed a separation of epithelium from the underlying dermis and/or lamina propria at the level below the basement membrane. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the localization of the subepidermal cleft formation, leading to the diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica (EBD). EBD is a well-known disease in humans as well as in various domestic and farm animal species, and the cause has been elucidated up to the molecular genetic level in some of these. In goats, however, there has been no genetic investigation in epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica so far, which will be the next step of the analysis in the here described case.