Alopecia 1 & 2

Question 1

Spontaneous alopecia Genetic defects (

Answer 1

1) due to defect(s) of the hair shaft or hair follicle
2) diagnosed based on presence of hair loss at birth or shortly after birth
3) most have a concurrent dental anomaly (x-linked)

Question 2

Hair Cycling Abnormalities that cause spontaneous alopecia (5)

Answer 2

1) Hypothyroidism**
2) Hyperadrenocorticism (cushing’s)**
3) Alopecia x
4) Canine flank alopecia
5) color dilute alopecia

Question 3

Primary Hypothyroidism etiology

Answer 3

1) lymphocytic thyroiditis
2) Autoimmune disease
3) autoantibiodes can be detected

Question 4

Primary Hypothyroidism etiology

Answer 4

1) lymphocytic thyroiditis
2) Autoimmune disease
3) autoantibodies can be detected

Question 5

Clinical signs of hypothyroidism (6)

Answer 5

1) alopecia (friction areas)
2) hyperpigmentation
3) excessive scaling
4) recurrent pyoderma
5) cutaneous mucinosis
6) myxedema

Question 6

Hypothyroidism mechanism of alopecia (5)

Answer 6

1) result of slowing of the hair follicle cycle
2) due to reduction of thyroid hormones
3) hair will NOT fall off spontaneously
4) rubbed off (friction) or “expelled” secondary to folliculitis (bacterial)
5) regrowth of hair stunted

Question 7

Hypothyroidism diagnosis (4)

Answer 7

1) clinical signs
2) BW
3) T4
4) Histopathology does not help differentiate from different diseases

Question 8

Treatment of hypothyroidism (5)

Answer 8

1) Levothyroxine
2) increases activity & weight loss 1-2 weeks
3) dermatologic signs: months
4) Recheck 6-8 weeks
5) BW 4-6 hours post pill

Question 9

Hyperadrenocorticism etiology (3)

Answer 9

1) spontaneous: pituitary dependent –> excessive production of ACTH by pituitart tumor
2) spontaneous: adrenal dependent –> excess production of glucocorticoids by adrenal tumor
3) Iatrogenic: chronic admin of steroids

Question 10

Hyperadrenocorticism clinical signs (5)

Answer 10

1) alopecia (bilateral symmetrical) spares the head and extremities
2) comedones
3) cutaneous atrophy
4) calcinosis cutis * (mineral deposition in the dermis)
5) recurrent pyoderma

Question 11

Mechanism of alopecia in Cushing’s (4)

Answer 11

1) due to excess glucocorticoids, hair follicles do not re-enter the anagen phase
2) hair follicle eventually undergo atrophy
3) hair shafts are expelled spontaneously
4) lack of hair shaft leads to formation of comedones

Question 12

Diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism (5)

Answer 12

1) clinical signs
2) CBC, chem, UA
3) ACTH stimulation test, LDDS test, HDDS test
4) abdominal ultrasound
5) histopathology will NOT differentiate from other alopecia disease

Question 13

Treating hyperadrenocorticism (3)

Answer 13

1) trilostane/mitotane
2) ACTH stim used to monitor treatment response
3) adjustment based on clinical response and and ACTH stim

Question 14

Alopecia X * (3)

Answer 14

1) etiology unknown
2) potential mutation in signaling pathway of receptor in hair follicle cycling
3) prevent hair follicles from entering anagen phase stuck in resting phase

Question 15

Alopecia X skin lesions (4)

Answer 15

1) bilateral symetrical
2) flanks
3) caudomedial thighs
4) neck

Question 16

Alopecia X diagnosis (4)

Answer 16

1) breed
2) early onset of skin lesion
3) younger
4) Histopathology with NOT differentiate this disease

Question 17

Alopecia X treatment (4)

Answer 17

1) cosmetic issue
2) melatonin may be effective
3) neutering
4) trilostane, deslorelin or microneedling (triggering trauma of hair follicles to stimulate growth

Question 18

Canine flank alopecia *

Answer 18

1) etiology unknown
2) suspected to be caused by intermittent hair follicle cycling defect (arrest )
3) skin lesion; alopecia bilaterally on flanks, irregular in shape, hyperpigmented skin

Question 19

Canine flank alopecia diagnosis (2)

Answer 19

1) breed
2) distinct characteristic clinical features
3) NO HISTOPATHOOOGY

Question 20

Canine flank alopecia treatment (1)

Answer 20

1) same as alopecia x

Question 21

Color dilution alopecia * (3)

Answer 21

1) etiology unknown
2) defective transport of pigment-containing vesicle (melanosome)
3) inherited genetic disease

Question 22

Color dilution alopecia skin lesion (6)

Answer 22

1) alopecia usually starts on trunk and slowly progresses
2) young adult
3)comedones
4) dry brittle hair coat
5) scaling
6) secondary bacterial infection

Question 23

Color dilution alopecia diagnosis (5)

Answer 23

1) breed & signalment
2) clinical features/skin lesions
3) r/o hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism
4) hair pluck: aggregates of melanin
5) skin biopsy to confirm abnormal melanosome transfer & follicular cycling abnormalities (normal skin and alopecia area)

Question 24

Telogen effluvium (defluxion) * (1)

Answer 24

1) a response to severe metabolic stress that developes 3-4 weeks after event

Question 25

Telogen effluvium (defluxion) * (1)

Answer 25

1) a response to severe metabolic stress that develops 3-4 weeks after event

Question 26

Causes of folliculitis (3)

Answer 26

1) Bacterial
2) Demodicosis
3) Dermatophytosis

Question 27

Demodicosis (2)

Answer 27

1) etiology: mites
2) Normal skin flora, aquired from dam during nursing

Question 28

Demodicosis pathogenesis (3)

Answer 28

1) proliferation of mites lead to follicular inflammation
2) hair falls out spontaneously
3) predisposes to secondary deep pyoderma

Question 29

Canine Demodicosis juvenile-onset (5)

Answer 29

1) juvenile or adolescent (first 18 months of life)
2) treatment not required for localized form
3) maybe come generalized & requires treatment
4) distribution on face and front limbs
5) < 4 skin lesions with diameter < 2.5 cm

Question 30

Canine Demodicosis adult-onset (4)

Answer 30

1) develops spontaneously OR due to underlying condition (immunosuppression)
2) treatment often required
3) distribution on face, feet, dorsal trunk
4) > 5 skin lesions

Question 31

Canine Demodicosis Demodex injai * (4)

Answer 31

1) long bodies mite species (x2 the size of demodex canis)
2) mites found mainly in the sebaceous ducts & glands
3) terrier & terrier crosses
4) skin lesions similar to D. canis but greasiness of the dorsal trunk

Question 32

Canine Demodicosis diagnosis * (6)

Answer 32

1) Deep skin scrapings in multiple sires
2) trichogram
3) exudate examination- suppurative lesions
4) tape impression & squeezing skin * (no pain)
5) adult onset- investigate underlying cause
6) in many cases the underlying cause CANNOT be determined

Question 33

Canine Demodicosis treatment (5)

Answer 33

1)Amitraz the only Rx
2) all else off label
3) Continue treatment until two skin scrapes/plucks one month apart do not yield mites
4) may take up to 6 months
5) secondary bacterial infection must be treated as well

Question 34

Demodex cati (5)

Answer 34

1) follicular mite
2) associated with underlying condition
3) deep skin scrape or hair pluck
4) older onset
5) oral ivermectin

Question 35

Feline demodex gatoi * (4)

Answer 35

1) pruritic & contagious mite
2) lives in stratum corneum
3) superficial skin scrape
4) lime sulfur dip, advantage multi

Question 36

Dermatophytosis *** (8)

Answer 36

1) Microsporim canis (cats)
2) trichophton mentagrophytes (small mammal)
3) Microsporum gypseum (inhabits soil)
4) ZOONOTIC)
5) direct contact with infected host, fomites or environment
6) fungal spores can remain in environement for months
7) young/old/immunosuppressed at higher risk
8) cats may be asymptomatic carries, reservoir for infection

Question 37

Skin lesions Dermatophytosis (5)

Answer 37

1) patches of alopecia +/- erythema
2) lesion tend to expend centrifugally
3) pruritis: varies
4) mild scaling &/or crusting
5) focal, multifocal or generalized

Question 38

Dermatophytosis Diagnosis (5)

Answer 38

1) woods lamp (fluoresce green apple) & lack of fluoresce does not rule it out
2) trichophton mentagrophytes & Microsporum gypseum do not fluoresce
3) Trichogram
4) Fungal culture (DTM) color change from yellow to red
5) PCR

Question 39

Positive PCR does not indicate necessarily an infection. Why?

Answer 39

1) a positive PCR test could reflect either
- true infection
- fomite contamination
- detection of non-viable spores

Question 40

Why treat the environment? (3)

Answer 40

1) prevents spread of infection to susceptible individuals
2) prevents false positive DTM and PCR
3) wash in chlorine bleach

Question 41

Ischemic Dermatopathies pathogenesis of lesion (1)

Answer 41

1) disruption of the blood supply results in hypoxia of the cells which then supply to

Question 42

Skin lesions of Ischemic dermatopathies (1)

Answer 42

1) vary and depends on location, size of the vessel, & degree of disruption

Question 43

Vaccine associated alopecia* etiology (1

Answer 43

1) vaccine induced (rabies often)

Question 44

Skin lesions associated with vaccine associated alopecia (2)

Answer 44

1) alopecia at vaccine site
2) hyperpigmentation

Question 45

Vaccine associated alopecia diagnosis & treatment (3)

Answer 45

1) history
2) biopsy of center of the lesion
3) no treatment, spontaneously resolve

Question 46

Dermatomyositis (3)

Answer 46

1) etiology: unknown
2) collies & shetland sheepdogs
3) diagnosed via skin biopsies
4) treat via immunosuppression

Question 47

Dermatomyositis skin lesions & other clinical signs (

Answer 47

1) alopecia, erosion, ulceration, scaring on face, ear, and tail tip
2) megaesophagus
3) muscle atrophy/weakness

Question 48

Generalized ischemic dermatopathy (4)

Answer 48

1) unknown etiology
2) more generalized but identical to dermatomyositis
3) diagnosed via skin biopsy
4) immunosupression