Skip to main content

Due to decreasing use over the years, I have decided to disable the forum functionality of the site.

Forums will still be available to view but new posts are no longer allowed.

Paper on vitiligo

Interesting. [b]Vitiligo in a quarter horse filly: Clinicopathologic, ultrastructural, and nutritional study[/b] Montes LF (Montes, Leopold F.)1,4, Wilborn WH (Wilborn, Walter H.)1,4, Hyde BM (Hyde, Barbara M.)1, Vaughan JT (Vaughan, J. Thomas)2, Bennett JS (Bennett, Judy S.)3 JOURNAL OF EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE Volume: 28 Issue: 3 Pages: 171-175 Published: MAR 2008 Abstract: Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder characterized clinically by depigmentation of the skin-both epidermis and hairs-caused by destruction of melanocytes. Vitiliginous skin shows a T-lymphocyte inflammatory infiltrate, proliferation of Langerhans cells, epidermal vacuoles, and degenerative changes in the cutaneous nerve fibrils. Increased autoantibodies against melanin, tyrosinase, and various tissues are frequently present in vitiligo patients. Vitiligo is often associated with systemic abnormalities or nutritional deficiencies. A 2-year-old Quarter Horse filly developed facial vitiligo with depigmented areas that was strikingly similar to human vitiligo. Several innocuous small biopsies provided cutaneous specimens that were processed for light and electron microscopic studies. Many of the clinical and microscopic changes observed in human vitiligo were present in this equine patient. Marginal anemia was detected. Strengthening of the filly's nutritional and feeding conditions led to rapid and complete repigmentation. Equine practitioners as well as horse owners should be aware that vitiligo may not be simply a cosmetic problem; thus, a complete evaluation of horses affected by this condition should be performed.

Heidi Fri, 05/28/2010 - 15:47

Well, I guess this is good-news/bad-news for me. I've always noticed my fingers rarely tanned and the area around my eyes had a tendency to look like I had pale goggles over them. (similar to the winter skiers' red face w/white goggle-eyes)
Interesting to note it is an autoimmune disorder accompanied by anemia, but this is my good-news/bad-news part ... I also have another autoimmune disorder with Crohn's in addition to chronic anemia, I am also treated w/ biologics that damage my immune system further. One of the symptoms of Crohn's is an inflamed colon that prevents the proper absorption of nutrition and liquid. I am in a constant state of anemia, dehydration and nutritional deficiency.
It doesn't sound very promissing to me from a recovery standpoint. *[i]sigh[/i]*

Okay! Pity-party over! I do have health-issues I work around but I definitely try to do the things I want to do and I don't let this disease hold me down for long. Yes, it's crappy, but if I don't laugh at the challenges and mishaps, I'll cry. I'd much rather laugh, so lets go have some fun!

lillith Sun, 05/30/2010 - 10:57

Hmmm, very interesting, I have mild anaemia and pale skin but I burn stupidly easily and have never tanned at all really. Related or just both downsides of being a milksop?

lol.

Heidi Sun, 05/30/2010 - 11:17

Mmm?! I burn easily, too. After slow/steady exposure to sun I'll tan but if I expose virgin-ish skin (belly/legs) for too long before it has built up a tan I will burn quickly.

Danni Sun, 05/30/2010 - 18:40

So how do we treat it?! I have a dog that had brown skin and nose leather but at about 1yo started losing pigment. I tried so many different things!! By about 4yo I think it had stopped but now she has a pink nose and some pink areas around her eyes. Although now I think of it, I do think her yes look a bit better than they used to. The nose is very pink though and burns easily :sad: She's now 8yo.

Jenks Sun, 09/05/2010 - 20:38

I'm going to schedule blood-work for Khaos first thing Tuesday then.....marginal Anemia? That's it? The whole nutritional issue that was corrected caused rapid re-pigmentation???

Maigray Sun, 09/05/2010 - 22:37

Anecdotally that's been reported for years. You hear the stories on the forum, perhaps I have heard more because I tend to hang out on "Arabian" forums and they as a breed seem to stereotypically exhibit it. However, also anecdotally, it is not always cleared up with nutritional supplements, however varied. The anemia thing may have a connection to garlic, especially coming off the hot months. Many people feed garlic as a fly prevention supplement, and it causes anemia. One article on it I read posited that most horses fed garlic have subclinical signs that are not otherwise apparent without bloodwork.

Jenks Fri, 09/10/2010 - 07:45

I haven't had the vet out yet, but he is not on garlic. He is on feed-through fly stuff, as well as loose minerals.

Jenks Sat, 09/11/2010 - 08:17

I found this - Pigmentary abnormalities may be acquired, and some of these may be hereditary or familial as in vitiligo. As a familial disease, vitiligo is best recognized in Arabian horses (Arabian fading syndrome, pinky syndrome); it may also be familial in cattle (Holstein-Friesian), Siamese cats, and in some breeds of dogs (Belgian Tervuren, Rottweiler).Affected animals develop somewhat symmetric macular depigmentation of the skin that occasionally also affects the hair coat and claws or hooves. The onset is usually in young adulthood. Most lesions are on the face, especially the muzzle or planum nasale or around the eyes. Depigmentation may wax and wane. Complete remission may occur but is rare. There is no accompanying systemic or cutaneous pathology. No treatment is available; treatments used in people with vitiligo are unlikely to provide significant cosmetic results in animals.

The weird thing is that this is not symmetrical, not on his face or nose, but strictly under his mane near the top side and only on that one side. I'm going to give him a tiny bit of red cell - but first, my trainer (who is also a vet tech) will take blood and run the CBC (I can't remember what she called it). It sounds though like it could just be his arabian half genetics and that he might have this "pinky syndrom"

Heidi Sun, 09/12/2010 - 10:01

[quote="Jenks"]... it may also be familial in ... Siamese cats ...[/quote]
Interesting, our newest cat is a meezer and I've thought his face looked 'odd' because his mask is very pale around his eyes. Vitiligo would certainly explain that look on him.

Do you have a pic of what the area under your horse's mane looks like?

Heidi Wed, 09/15/2010 - 10:51

Ha! I like the expression on his face in the cute pic.

I don't have time to go back to read just now ... did it just _BAM!_ appear there or did it sneak in and grow?

Jenks Wed, 09/15/2010 - 13:08

Well, interestingly, that's the side his mane lays on. It turned pure white first. I mean, the rest of him was charcoal, and under his mane went pure white last year.....I thought it odd, but just about 2 months ago I lifted and I don't know if I just didn't notice it or if it BAM went, but I'm eyeing it to see if it grows!