Ringtail in Suckling Munich Wistar Fromter Rats: A Histopathologic Study

Ringtail is a pathologic condition of the tail of rats and other rodents that is traditionally attributed to low environmental humidity, although dietary deficiencies, genetic susceptibility, environmental temperature, and degree of hydration of the animal also have been suggested as possible causes...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Comparative medicine 2000-10, Vol.50 (5), p.536-539
Main Authors: Crippa, Luca, Gobbi, Alberto, Ceruti, Roberta M., Clifford, Charles B., Remuzzi, Andrea, Scanziani, Eugenio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Suckling
Dietary Proteins - administration & dosage
Female
Histocytochemistry - veterinary
Male
Rats
Rats, Wistar - physiology
Rodent Diseases - etiology
Rodent Diseases - pathology
Skin Diseases - etiology
Skin Diseases - pathology
Skin Diseases - veterinary
Tail - pathology
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Summary:Ringtail is a pathologic condition of the tail of rats and other rodents that is traditionally attributed to low environmental humidity, although dietary deficiencies, genetic susceptibility, environmental temperature, and degree of hydration of the animal also have been suggested as possible causes. To the authors' knowledge, a detailed histopathologic study that may serve to shed light on the etiopathogenesis of this disease has not yet been published. We describe the histologic findings of ringtail observed in 12 suckling Munich Wistar Fromter (MWF) rats from two litters. Epidermal hyperplasia characterized by orthokeratotic and parakeratotic hyperkeratosis and acanthosis was observed in all affected rats. Numerous often dilated vessels were present in the dermis of tails that appeared of red/brown color at gross examination. In severe cases, the dilated vascular structures were thrombotic and accompanied by dermal hemorrhages and focal coagulative necrosis of the overlying epidermis. These findings suggest that epidermal acanthosis and hyperkeratosis are the main and primary events in the development of ringtail. To clarify the cause of this disease, future studies should be focused on the numerous factors that can induce such epidermal changes.
ISSN:1532-0820