DYSTROPHIC FORM OF INHERITED EPIDERMOLYSIS-BULLOSA IN A DOG (AKITA-INU)

We report a dog with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. This 4-year-old female Akita Inu, a species of Canis familiaris var, japonicus Temmin ck, had a 3-year-history of ulcers and scars over the pressure areas o n the limbs, and dystrophic nails, since the age of 1 year, which corr esponds to early adulthood in humans, Electron microscopy of a blister revealed separation beneath the lamina densa, and a reduction in the number of anchoring fibrils. The NC-1 domain of type VII collagen was positively stained with monoclonal antibody LH7.2 at the basement memb rane zone, These findings indicate that humans and dogs have a similar response to antibody LH7.2, which may aid the development of an anima l model for this disease.