A disease resembling junctional epidermolysis bullosa in a toy poodle.

A disease resembling junctional epidermolysis bullosa in humans is described in a toy poodle. Shortly after birth, the affected animal developed vesicles and bullae on the pads of the feet and the mucous membranes of the oral cavity. The lesions rapidly increased in number and severity, eventually involving the glabrous skin of the ventral abdomen. Due to the severity of the lesions, the animal was euthanized when it was 48 h old. Histopathologic, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical evaluation defined a minimally inflamed subepidermal vesicular disease with separation occurring at the zona lucida of the basement membrane zone. Laminin and type IV collagen were present at the base of the vesicle.