Case study: Ichthyosis in two chianina calves

The occurrence of Ichthyosis in two Italian Chianina calves is described for the first time. Both animals, affected by Ichthyosis fetalis and Ichthyosis congenita respectively, showed diffuse cutaneous thickening, since birth. The first patient was a three-month-old female calf; inelastic leather cuirass-like skin associated to generalized hypotrichosis and local alopecia, delay of the physiologic change of the coat colour, stiff movement and growth retardation were the most prominent clinical characteristics. The patient was kept under observation for almost one year. The second case occurred in a 18-day-old female calf, which was referred already dead; presence of irregular hyperkeratotic plates separated by deep fissures over the entire cutaneous surface, and slight eversion of the mucocutaneous junction (eclabium and ectropion) were the most characteristic alterations. In both cases, the major histopathological feature was a diffuse lamellar orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis. Although no familial relationship was detected between the two patients, an underlying genetic defect was strongly suspected on the basis of current knowledge.