IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF NORMAL AND MANGE (S-SCABIEI VAR. RUPICAPRAE) INFESTED CHAMOIS (RUPICAPRA-RUPICAPRA L.) SKIN

The immunohistochemical study of chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra L.) skin showed that a limited number of available monoclonal and polyclonal a ntibodies expressed reactivity with skin cell components. These includ ed cytokeratins, vimentin, desmin, neuron-specific enolase and S-100 p rotein with almost the same distribution pattern as already described in the skin of humans and animals. Antibodies used for labelling skin- associated lymphoid tissues and other cells with the immunologic funct ion in human skin failed to demonstrate these cells in the chamois ski n with the exception of LCA and OKT6 antibodies. Epidermal Langerhans cells were reliably demonstrated only by the enzyme histochemical meth od for adenosine triphosphatase: while the majority of mononuclear cel ls in dermal infiltrates showed a strong immunoreaction with OKT6 anti body. The histologic and histochemical analysis showed that the dermal infiltrations in infested skin consisted of macrophages, lymphocytes, granulocytes, mastocytes and fibroblasts. The chamois skin affected w ith sarcoptes mange showed a significant loss of cytokeratins in the e pidermis and its derivatives. Particular keratinocytes showing nonspec ific staining with several antibodies were also described and discusse d in this paper.