Successful treatment of sebaceous adenitis in a rabbit with ciclosporin and triglycerides

Abstract

A 4-year-old rabbit was presented with a chronic exfoliative dermatitis and patchy alopecia. General physical examination revealed no abnormalities. Skin scrapings and fungal culture were negative. A blood sample was obtained for a complete blood cell count and biochemical profile, and yielded results that were within normal limits. Radiographic examination of the thorax excluded the presence of a thymoma. Histopathology of the skin showed orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, absence of sebaceous glands and mural lymphocytic folliculitis, consistent with sebaceous adenitis. Oral treatment was started with ciclosporin dissolved in a medium-chain triglyceride solution (Miglyol 812), combined with essential fatty acids and topical propylene glycol sprays. Within 2 months of treatment, complete regression of skin lesions and regrowth of hair was observed. Serum chemistry values including kidney and liver function tests remained within reference range during the course of treatment. Histopathological examination of control biopsies of the skin showed presence of normal sebaceous glands and active hair follicles. Treatment was changed to a different pharmaceutical formulation of ciclosporin without Miglyol and deterioration of clinical signs was noticed. Using pure Miglyol 812, however, resulted in a gradual improvement of 60%. A nearly complete response was again observed after re-administration of the combination ciclosporin/Miglyol. It is hypothesized that sebaceous adenitis in the rabbit is most likely due to an autoimmune reaction directed at the sebaceous glands and a defect in lipid metabolism. The outcome indicates that a combination of ciclosporin and Miglyol 812 is a promising new treatment for sebaceous adenitis in rabbits.

Disparate histopathology of sebaceous adenitis in a rabbit

“…Reported age of onset ranges from 15 months7 to 7.5 years of age 6. This condition has been reported to respond to treatment with ciclosporin and medium chain triglycerides 8. Sebaceous adenitis was determined to be the most likely diagnosis for this patient primarily based on serial skin biopsies and response to treatment.…”

“…6 This condition has been reported to respond to treatment with ciclosporin and medium chain triglycerides. 8 Sebaceous adenitis was determined to be the most likely diagnosis for this patient primarily based on serial skin biopsies and response to treatment. This case report adds to the limited body of published work regarding sebaceous adenitis in rabbits.…”

Presumptive paraneoplastic exfoliative dermatitis in four domestic rabbits

“… *This case has partly been described previously (Jassies-van der Lee and others 2009) †Mygliol 812 – a medium-chain triglyceride solution EFA Essential fatty acids …”

“…A seborrhoeic rabbit is a common diagnostic challenge, and ­differential diagnoses include malnutrition, ectoparasites, dermatophytosis, yeast dermatitis (White and others 2003), sebaceous adenitis (Jassies-van der Lee and others 2009, White and others 2000b), cutaneous lymphoma (White and others 2000a), autoimmune hepatitis-­associated (Florizoone and others 2007) and thymoma-associated exfoliative dermatitis (Florizoone 2005). The clinical observation of exfoliative dermatitis and histologic changes of lymphocytic mural and interface dermatitis and absence of sebaceous glands should prompt the clinician to search for a systemic cause with thymic neoplasia representing one of the top differentials.…”

Thymoma associated exfoliative dermatitis in a rabbit with hepatic cirrhosis

“…E xfoliative dermatitis in rabbits is a challenging multifactorial disease that can be attributed to malnutrition, ectoparasitosis, dermatophytosis, cheylletielosis, Malassezia dermatitis, sebaceous adenitis (Jassies-van der Lee et al, 2009;Miller et al, 2013), dermatosis with response to zinc (Bentley and Grubb, 1991), epitheliotropic lymphoma (White et al, 2000), erythema multiforme (Scott, 2010), or can be associated with mediastinal (Florizoone, 2005;Rostaher-Prélaud et al, 2013) and interface hepatitis (Florizoone et al, 2007). Paraneoplastic exfoliative dermatitis in rabbits is rare in veterinary medicine.…”