Metrics details. Autoimmune dermatoses targeting melanocytes have gained attention in human medicine due to their progressive nature and the social impact suffered by affected individuals. In veterinary medicine, vitiligo and the uveodermatological syndrome are the two autoimmune diseases that are known to affect skin melanocytes. In the first part of this article, we will review the signalment, clinical signs, histopathology and the treatment outcome of vitiligo in dogs, cats and horses; where pertinent, we compare the animal diseases to their human homologue.
In a similar fashion, the information on the uveodermatological syndrome in dogs is reviewed and, where relevant, it is compared to the Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada VKH syndrome in humans. Canine, feline and equine vitiligo have many features that mirror their human counterparts.
The most effective treatment and outcome of vitiligo in animals remain unclear. The canine uveodermatological syndrome resembles the incomplete VKH variant in humans; for affected individuals, an immediate diagnosis and aggressive treatment are crucial to prevent the development of blindness. Melanocytes possess the unique ability to synthesize melanin pigments, which contribute to the skin and hair color of humans and animals. Other than the skin and skin appendages of domesticated mammals, melanocytes are found in the oral mucosa, eye, cochlea and less consistently the meninges [ 1 ].
In the eyes, melanocytes are abundant in the uvea i. In the ear, melanocytes are found in the stria vascularis of the cochlea and contribute to endolymph formation [ 1 ]. Autoimmune diseases of melanocytes have gained attention in human medicine due to their often-progressive nature and the negative social impact suffered by affected individuals.
These diseases are due to the specific destruction of melanocytes, which results in a variety of clinical presentations, depending on the organ s in which the melanocytes are targeted. In this review, we will focus on the two recognized autoimmune disease of melanocytes in animals: vitiligo and the uveodermatological syndrome, the canine homologue of the VKH disease of humans.
