Successful Management of Congenital Skin Fragility in a Kurdish Foal: Suspected Role of Maternal E. coli Infection

Background: Non-traumatic neonatal skin fragility disorders are rarely reported in equine neonates and often carry a poor prognosis due to extensive skin detachment and risk of perinatal or postpartum infection. Skin fragility and ulcerative lesions in equine neonates may result after infectious causes, including those acquired during parturition or shortly after, as well as from genetic disorders such as epidermolysis bullosa (EB), junctional epidermolysis, hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA), or drug-induced or non–drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions. Methods: The clinical management of a ۳-day-old male Kurdish foal presenting with respiratory distress and subsequent widespread skin fragility secondary to likely E.coli maternal metritis is described. Initial therapy focused on stabilizing the foal’s respiratory condition. Following stabilization, extensive epidermal detachment across the axillary, pectoral, and regions was noted. conservative wound management was implemented, as primary suturing was not feasible due to the skin's extreme fragility. The wound was managed with twice-daily wound cleaning, followed by the injection of a trimethoprim–sulfadiazine and topical application of Peru-balsam ointment for protection. Additionally, Theranekron® was administered to biologically stimulate fibroblast proliferation and neovascularization, supporting the healing process. Results: By the end of the treatment period, the wound displayed healthy granulation tissue without any purulent exudate. Over the next ten days, progressive contraction and re-epithelialization were observed, leading to complete wound closure with minimal scarring by day ten. The foal maintained normal appetite and activity throughout recovery and showed no recurrence or secondary complications during follow-up. Conclusion: This report documents a case of congenital skin fragility with spontaneous axillary laceration in a Kurdish foal potentially linked to maternal E. coli infection. Successful healing was achieved through conservative management using Peru balsam, theranekron® without surgical intervention. These results highlight the potential of combined topical therapy for managing neonatal skin disorders.

کلیدواژه ها:

Foal ، Congenital skin defect ، Wound healing ، Peru-balsam ، E.coli ، Theranekron®