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Short communication
Bald thigh syndrome of Greyhound dogs: gross and
microscopic ndings
POLLY R. SCHONING and LAINE A. COWAN
Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology and *Department of Clinical Sciences, College of
Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
(Received 30 March 1998; accepted 4 January 1999)
Abstract Bald thigh syndrome (BTS) is a disease limited to Greyhound dogs. It is characterized clinically and
grossly by bilateral hair loss on the lateral and caudal thighs. The cause of BTS is unknown but may be
associated with hypothyroidism or hyperadrenocorticism. Samples of skin, thyroid glands, and adrenal glands
from 43 Greyhound dogs with BTS were examined microscopically. Microscopic changes were characterized
by dilatation of follicular infundibula, presence of catagen follicles and epidermal hyperplasia. Changes in the
skin from these Greyhound dogs suggest an endocrinopathy as the cause; however, we were unable to conrm
which one.
Keywords: dermatology, dermatohistopathology, Greyhound dog, endocrine alopecia, bald thigh syndrome.
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Bhed
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INTRODUCTION
Dhed
Ref marker
Fig marker Bald thigh syndrome (BTS) is a disease of Greyhound
Table marker dogs characterized by hair loss of the lateral and
caudal thighs and often extends to the ventral
Ref end
abdomen (Fig. 1). It is seen most commonly in racing
Ref start
Greyhounds and hair regrows when the dog is not
actively racing.
Hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism are
the two causes usually suggested for BTS.1,2 However, these assumptions may be incorrect, because
treatment for those two diseases has given variable results.2
Necropsy specimens of skin from the lateral thigh,
thyroid glands and adrenal glands were obtained
from 43 Greyhound dogs that had been identied
grossly with BTS.1 Their age and sex was recorded.
Additional medical and historical information was
not available.
Tissue specimens were xed in 10% neutral
buered formalin, paran-embedded, sectioned and
stained with haematoxylin and eosin for microscopic
examination. Specic criteria recorded for the skin
included epithelial hyperplasia, size and number of
hair follicles, and presence of catagen follicles.
Criteria noted for thyroid glands included amount
of follicular colloid, follicular atrophy, interstitial
inammatory response and mineralization. Criteria
noted for adrenal glands included nodular hyperCorrespondence: Dr Polly Schoning, Department of DM/P,
Mosier Hall, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State
University, Manhattan KS 66506, USA
# 2000 Blackwell Science Ltd
175 DISC
50
175 DISC
Bald thigh syndrome in Greyhound dogs
dogs had not been clipped. Also, hair growth in
Greyhound dogs is dependent on the time of year and
hair does regrow following clipping.6
In conclusion, the microscopic ndings in the skin
of these dogs were compatible with an endocrine
alopecia, such as hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism, and also with acquired pattern baldness.
REFERENCES
1. Gannon, J. The bald thigh syndrome of racing
Greyhounds. Refresher Course on Greyhounds No. 64.
Sydney: University of Sydney, 1983: 2634.
2. Blythe, L.L., Gannon, J.R., Craig, A.M. Care of the
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4.
5.
6.
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Resume Le syndrome d'alopecie des cuisses (bald thigh syndrome: BTS) est une entite rencontree seulement
dans la race Greyhound. Il se manifeste cliniquement sous la forme d'une chute de poils localisee au niveau des
faces laterales et caudales des cuisses. La cause d'apparition des lesions est inconnue, mais pourrait etre liee a
une hypothyro die ou un hyperadrenocorticisme. Des prelevements de peau, de glande thyro de, et des
surrenales ont ete obtenus chez 43 Greyhound sourant de BTS et examines au microscope. Les modications
observees regroupaient une dilatation des infundibulum folliculaires, la presence de follicules pileux en phase
catagene, et une hyperplasie epidermique. Les modications cutanees observees chez ces chiens suggerent
qu'une endocrinopathie est reponsable des lesions, bien que nous n'ayons pas pu en determiner l'origine.
[Schoning, P. R. et Cowan, L. A. (Alopecie des cuisses chez le Greyhound: donnees macrocopiques et
microscopiques.) Veterinary Dermatology 2000; 11: 4951.]
Resumen El s ndrome del muslo calvo (BTS) es una enfermedad limitada a los galgos. Se caracteriza
cl nicamente y macroscopicamente por una perdida de de pelo bilateral en los muslos laterales y caudales. La
causa del BTS es desconocida pero puede estar asociada al hipotiroidismo o al hiperadrenocorticismo. Se
examinaron microscopicamente muestras de piel, glandula tiroides y glandulas adrenales de 43 galgos con
BTS. Las alteraciones microscopicas se caracterizaban por una dilatacion de los infund bulos foliculares,
presencia de fol culos en catagen e hiperplasia epidermica. Los cambios en la piel de estos galgos suger an una
endocrinopat a como causa; sin embargo, no nos fue posible conrmar cual. [Schoning, P. R. y Cowan, L. A.
(S ndrome del muslo calvo en los galgos: hallazgos macroscopicos y microscopicos.) Veterinary Dermatology
2000; 11: 4951.]
Zusammenfassung Das kahle Oberschenkelsyndrom (KOS) ist eine Erkrankung, die ausschliesslich beim
Windhund gesehen wird. Die Ursache des KOS ist unbekannt, konnte aber mit Hypothyreose oder
Hyperadrenokortizismus verbunden sein. Proben der Haut, Schilddruse und Nebennieren von 43
Windhunden mit KOS wurden mikroskopisch untersucht. Histopathologie war durch Dilatation der
follikularen Infundibula, die Anwesenheit von katagenen Follikeln und epidermale Hyperplasie
gekennzeichnet. Die Hautveranderungen dieser Windhunde deuten auf eine Endokrinopathie hin, die
Autoren waren jedoch nicht in der Lage festzustellen, um welche es sich handelt. [Schoning, P. R. und Cowan,
L. A. (Das kahle Oberschenkelsyndrom beim Windhund: Klinische und mikroskopische Befunde.) Veterinary
Dermatology 2000; 11: 4951.]