Acquired cutaneous angiomatosis and Chorioptes species dermatitis in an adult llama

Abstract

A five‐year‐old male llama was presented for nonpainful, nonpruritic dermatitis of the right pelvic and thoracic limbs, and right pelvic limb lameness of 2 weeks’ duration. Cutaneous lesions were soft to firm, erythematous, raised and plaque‐like with comedones and scale. Histopathology revealed orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, suppurative and eosinophilic folliculitis and numerous densely packed vascular structures extending throughout the superficial and mid‐dermis. Concurrent Chorioptes species mites were diagnosed via skin scrapings, and parasitic infestation resolved with topical sulphurated lime solution application. Angiomatosis lesions persisted on clinical and histopathological re‐evaluation. PCR on formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissue was negative for multiple Bartonella species. This is the second report of cutaneous angiomatosis in a llama, but the first case suspected to be secondary to ectoparasite (Chorioptes species) infestation.