Cutaneous Equine Sarcoidosis: A Case Series and Investigation Into a Potential Association With Equine Gammaherpesviruses-2 and -5 in 30 Equids.

EHV-5 may contribute to cutaneous equine sarcoidosis pathogenesis based on detection within lesions.

This retrospective case series investigated the potential association between equine gammaherpesviruses (EHV-2 and EHV-5) and cutaneous equine sarcoidosis (cES), an idiopathic granulomatous skin disease. Thirty equids with histologically and clinically confirmed cES were evaluated using histochemical stains, quantitative PCR, and in situ hybridization on skin biopsies. Quarter horses and thoroughbreds were overrepresented, with animals ranging from 10 months to 31 years old. Clinical presentations included localized, partially generalized, and generalized forms, with alopecia, crusting, and scaling most commonly affecting the limbs. No bacterial or fungal pathogens were detected. EHV-5 DNA was detected in eight animals (27%), with hybridization signals localized within skin lesions in five of these. EHV-2 DNA was detected in four animals (13%), but hybridization failed to confirm presence in any tested tissue. These findings suggest EHV-5 may play a role in cES pathogenesis, though the exact etiology remains uncertain. The study also documents a rare case of cES in a donkey.

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