Neutrophil movement in selected canine skin diseases.

Neutrophilic movement was studied in dogs with atopy, 3 bacterial pyoderma syndromes, flea allergy dermatitis, and generalized demodicosis. Random neutrophil movement was decreased in generalized demodicosis, and this deficit correlated with the extent of body surface skin lesions. Neutrophilic chemotactic movement was decreased in 2 bacterial pyoderma syndromes: bacterial pyoderma, and staphyloccocal pyoderma. Although serum samples from diseased dogs showed no significant differences in chemoattractive qualities from normal pooled canine serum, control canine neutrophils incubated in demodectic dog serum showed decreased chemotactic responsiveness. It was postulated that demodectic dog serum had an inhibitor or deactivator of neutrophil chemotaxis.