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The skin, the largest animal body organ, constitutes a barrier against tissue damage from pathogens, resident microbiota, chemicals and environmental factors. In veterinary medical clinic, the main complaint in dogs and cats involves skin diseases, ranging from infections by pathogens to immune-mediated diseases. The exaggerated immune response to components of cutaneous system involves mechanisms associated with humoral and cellular factors, known as biomarkers. Among such conditions, there are the bullous diseases, including pemphigus foliaceus, vulgar, erythematosus and bullous pemphigoid, lupus erythematosus discoid and systemic, and dermatomyositis. The diagnosis of diseases is a medical responsibility and must rely on the medical history of the animal, laboratory tests including hematology, biochemistry, cytology, histopathology and immunohistochemistry. In this context, this review aims to review the pathogenic mechanisms, including mediators and cells, clinical signs, diagnostic tests and therapy used in the treatment protocol of the main autoimmune skin diseases in dogs and cats. With these informations, it is expected to contribute with updates about immunotherapies that are being used in humans and that eventually can be applied to Veterinary Medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluate the oil effects of Ouratea spp. on skin healing in experimental models in vivo. The vegetable oil was purchased commercially in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, and analyzed chemically and microbiologically. The wounds were induced on the backs of mice divided into three groups: Group I treated with NaCl 0.9%; Group II treated with oil of Helianthus annus (reference group) and Group III treated with oil of Ouratea spp. All animals received 100 |iL of each treatment applied to the lesion daily for 12 consecutive days. The evaluations of the macroscopic parameters and the measurement of lesion area were performed daily. Lesion fragments were collected on days 2, 7 and 12 for histological evaluation. Ouratea spp. oil presented as the main constituents linoleic (40.88%) and oleic (28.29%). Ouratea spp. oil began the process of shrinkage of the lesion area on day 4, while the H. annus oil and NaCl 0.9% started the process of shrinkage of the lesion area in the 7th and 6th, respectively (p <0.05). The treatment with Ouratea spp. oil showed a more marked collagen when compared to other treatments (p <0.05). This effect may be associated to the high levels of omega-6 and omega-9 present in this oil. It was concluded that Ouratea spp. oil presents a great therapeutic potential to treat cutaneous wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]