PARANEOPLASTIC PEMPHIGUS IN A DOG

This report presents a case of paraneoplastic pemphigus in a 7-year-ol d female Bouvier. The dog initially showed extensive oral ulcerations that exacerbated upon treatment with trimethoprim-sulfadiazine Subsequ ently, the dog developed vesiculobullous and ulcerative lesions on the ear margins, the nose, periocular, and at the nail beds. Due to compl ete therapy resistance and a deteriorating general condition, the dog was euthanized. During post-mortem examination a thymic lymphoma was f ound. While an early biopsy of the oral cavity revealed features of er ythema multiforme, skin lesions at necropsy were typical of pemphigus vulgaris. Indirect immunofluorescence of patient serum revealed an ant ikeratinocyte membrane pattern typical for pemphigus. The serum was al so positive on bovine bladder epithelium. In a Western blot, autoantib odies to a 210 and a 190 kDa protein were detected.