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Background: Skin is a versatile organ, which is extremely important for protection, perception, water regulation and wound healing. The skin of goat is considered extremely durable used by the tannery Industry to make rugs and carpet binding. 
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Methods: The present study was conducted on the skin of goats of either sex to study the age wise changes in the histomorphology, histochemistry and histoenzymology of dermis. The skin samples were collected from Nagpur Muncipal Corporation Slaughter house immediately after natural death and subsequently processed and stained for histological, histochemical and histoenzymic studies. The total of 220 samples, 20 each from different body regions namely dorsal neck, lateral neck, ventral neck, dorsal thorax, lateral thorax, ventral thorax, dorsal abdomen, lateral abdomen, ventral abdomen, lateral thigh and medial thigh were collected. The animals were divided into two groups, viz. six to twelve month of age (Gr I) and above one year age (Gr II). 
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Result: It was observed that the dermis was composed of collagen, elastic, reticular fibers, cells of connective tissue, blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands and arrector pili muscles in all body regions in Gr I as well as in Gr II. The dermis was divided into thin superficial papillary layer and a thick deep reticular layer. The dermal papillae were the upward projections of superficial papillary layer between epidermal pegs. In reticular layer, fibroblasts were larger, while in papillary layer, fibroblasts were thin long, compressed and spindle shaped. The collagen fibers were more in number as compared to other fibers in dermis and they were densely arranged in papillary layer and parallel with the skin surface below the epidermis. The elastic fibers were present in between the collagen fibers around the blood vessels and hair follicles. The arteriovenous shunt was found surrounded by capsule of connective tissue consisting of smooth muscle cells. The more number of hair follicles at deep part of papillary layer and few follicles were present in reticular layer. The hair follicle composed of outer root sheath, inner root sheath, cortex and medulla. The depth of primary hair follicle increased with the advancement of age. Moderate PAS positive activity was noted in the papillary layer, while it was weak to moderate in reticular layer. The reticular layer of the dermis showed moderate Sudan black B activity for the presence of lipid than the papillary layer. The mild acid phosphatase activity was seen in the papillary and reticular layer of dermis, while moderate acid phosphatase activity was noticed in the blood vessels. A mild alkaline phosphatase activity was present in dermis in Gr I and Gr II. 
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Conclusion: The present study would form a baseline data on the histomorphology, histochemistry and histoenzymology of skin of goat which would be helpful in future research prospective.
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Histomorphological, Histochemical and Histoenzymic Studies on the Dermis of Skin of Goat (Capra hircus)

<div>Background: Madras Red sheep is a well-recognized meat type breed reared only on free range system to yield tasty meat. The aim of this study was to determine the gross, microanatomical and ultrastructural details of the interdigital gland in Madras Red sheep. 
 
Methods: The interdigital glands were removed immediately after slaughter and subjected for gross morphological, histological, immunohistochemical studies and ultrastructural observations.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results revealed that a well-developed tobacco-pipe shaped interdigital gland was present in all the four limbs which was composed of an orifice, excretory duct, body and bent or flexure. Histologically, wall of the gland was composed of epidermis, dermis and capsule from within outward. Epidermis was made of stratified squamous keratinized epithelium. Dermis was composed of dense irregular connective tissue with sweat, sebaceous glands, arrectores pili muscle and hair follicles were embedded within. The sweat gland appeared as group of tortuous tubules under scanning electron microscope. The oily secretion of the gland helps in maintaining the healthiness of foot during movement of the animal.&nbsp;</div>

Gross, Microanatomical and Ultrastructural Studies of Interdigital Gland in Madras Red Sheep (Ovis aries)

<div style="text-align: justify;">In this study, we used high-throughput technology to provide the first transcriptome dataset for differentially expressed miRNA in mixed pools of dermis tissue from black- and white-coated yak to research the possible molecular mechanisms of yak coat pigmentation. In this study, 92,636,002 and 95,917,842 clear reads were generated through Illumina paired-end sequencing. A total of 78 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were identified, including 59 upregulated and 19 downregulated miRNAs in the mixed pools of white-coated yak compared with the mixed pools of black-coated yak. In addition, 3634 genes were predicted as putative targets of DEMs. These DEGs related to 59 GO categories and were enriched in 216 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, including melanogenesis and the Wnt signaling pathway. The results of the current study indicated that the coat color of the yak involved the transcriptional regulation process of miRNAs. These results provide helpful data to understand the molecular mechanisms of yak coat pigmentation.</div>

Identification and characterization of microRNAs in white and black&nbsp;coated yak

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: During a study on the outbreak of orf in goats, it was intended to study the disease transmissibility in different hosts from field samples and ascertain the infective potential of the agent in laboratory animals compared to goats. 
 
Methods: Cutaneous clinical materials from orf virus (ORFV) infected goats was used to experimentally infect naive goats, rabbits and mice and ascertain its infective potential and transmissibility in different hosts. The processed inoculum was applied topically to mimic a natural transmission through injured skin. Regular skin biopsies were taken that revealed characteristic macroscopic and microscopic lesions typical of orf. 
 
Result: Virus inoculum applied on abraded skin in goats successfully established the lesions of orf. A parallel inoculation in rabbit and mice could not successfully reproduce the disease in these unnatural hosts beyond a subtle vesicular stage on 3 dpi with subsequent healing by 7 dpi. The lesions in goats regressed spontaneously by 28 days post-infection (dpi). Intracytoplasmic inclusions were associated only in the vesicular stage. Immunopathological progression was observed by immunoperoxidase staining of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells which were found to appear by day 5 in the dermis and became more abundant and distributed by day 8, but subsequently reduced in number by 15 dpi. CD4+ cells were found to be more numerous and widespread. Viral antigen in tissues could be demonstrated by 4 dpi by immunohistological methods that increased in signal intensity progressively and disappear by 28 dpi. Similarly, viral nucleic acid in the skin could be detected on day 8 dpi but not on 28 dpi by PCR. The present experiment depicts the ease of disease transmissibility through traumatized skin in the primary hosts, but establishment in unnatural hosts may not be readily achieved. The infection was self-limiting with possibly no virus latency as indicated by immunofluorescence and PCR studies.</div>

​Dermal Response to Experimental Orfvirus (ORFV) Infection in Goats, Mice and Rabbit

<div>Background: Skin is the largest organ of the body, accounting for 15-20% of the total body weight and acts as a barrier between the external and internal environment and maintain homeostasis.The sweat and sebaceous glands in dermis of skin play vital role in developing the adaptive ability to the heat stress. Besides this, the distribution pattern and number of these glands vary in different animals that may aid in identification of different species. 
 
Methods: The study was conducted on abdominal skin of 36 adult cattle, buffalo, horse, goat, pig and dog (six sample of each) collected from abattoir, Veterinary clinics and post-mortem hall of GADVASU, Ludhiana. After collection, the tissues were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and processed for paraffin block preparation. The paraffin sections of 5-6 &micro;m were cut and stained with hematoxylin and eosin stain.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The study revealed that the sebaceous glands were multilobular, alveolar glands comprised of several layers of epithelial cells and were associated with hair follicles in all species studied. The number of sebaceous glands/mm2 was significantly higher (p&le;0.05) in goat (1.60&plusmn; 0.11) than in pig (0.44&plusmn;0.06) whereas sebaceous gland diameter was significantly higher (p&le;0.05) in buffalo (109.83&plusmn;6.14 &micro;m) than in goat (61.16 &plusmn;2.42 &micro;m).The sweat glands were of saccular and simple coiled tubular type and most of them were associated with hair follicles. The number of sweat glands/mm2 was the highest in horse (3.10 &plusmn; 0.24) and the least in buffalo (0.76 &plusmn;0.05). Sweat gland diameter was significantly higher (p&le;0.05) maximum in buffalo (123&plusmn;3.15 &micro;m) and minimum in goat (50.33 &plusmn;2.85 &micro;m) and the difference.</div>

<div>Comparative Study on Distribution of Sebaceous and Sweat Glands in Skin of Different Domestic Animals</div>

<div>Background: The Study was intended to evaluate some common diagnostics that could supplement the clinical and histological identification of orf in goats. 
 
Methods: Samples from suspected clinical cases of orf (Contagious ecthyma) were collected from various organized and unorganized goat herds around Guwahati, Assam. Presumptive diagnosis was based on the typical signs and lesions. For confirmatory diagnosis, various molecular and immunoassays were employed for the detection of orf virus or circulating antibodies. 
 
Result: Cutaneous lesions observed included solitary to multifocal erythema, papules, vesicles, pustules and scab stages on the lips, ears, gums, tongue, udder and perineal region. No mortality was observed and the morbidity rate varied between 35-60%. Microscopic lesions in skin biopsies were typically marked by epidermal hyperplasia and ballooning degeneration of the keratinocytes along with other changes. Eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were demonstrable within keratinocytes only in early papulo-vesicular stages. Dermis was infiltrated with polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells in varying proportions. Initial screening of samples was done with PCR systems to specifically detect parapoxvirus DNA employing a semi-nested PCR targeted against the partial B2L gene (with reported primers yielding 594 bp and 235 bp amplified products) and an uniplex PCR targeting the whole B2L gene (with reported primer set to yield an amplified product of 1206 bp). Agar gel immuno-diffusion (AGID) failed to develop positive immunoprecipitation with hyperimmune serum against scab lysates; however, counter-immuno-electrophoresis (CIE) showed positive immunoprecipitation in the same samples. For rapid and in situ detection of ORFV antigen in tissues, immunofluorescent and immunoperoxidase techniques were successfully employed both on cryosections and formalin fixed skin biopsies. Immunofluorescent technique on cryosections was found to be easy, rapid and more specific. A dot-ELISA was also developed for successful confirmation of orf virus from clinical samples. For antibody detection in convalescing goats, an indirect-ELISA and a dot-ELISA was also successfully tested to demonstrate for antibody detection in convalescing goats, but protective titres later after infection was not addressed. Monoclonal antibody employed in the assays was found to be specific, sensitive and versatile for virus detection from direct clinical samples. It is contemplated that assays employing hyperimmune sera or detection of circulating antibody against orf virus may have limited diagnostic applications owing to its partial and transient humoral immunity and the inherent property of the virus to modulate and interfere with the host response and evade immune mechanisms.</div>

Histomorphological, Histochemical and Histoenzymic Studies on the Dermis of Skin of Goat (Capra hircus)

Gross, Microanatomical and Ultrastructural Studies of Interdigital Gland in Madras Red Sheep (Ovis aries)

Identification and characterization of microRNAs in white and black coated yak

Dermal Response to Experimental Orfvirus (ORFV) Infection in Goats, Mice and Rabbit

Comparative Study on Distribution of Sebaceous and Sweat Glands in Skin of Different Domestic Animals

Natural Infection of Goats with Orf (Contagious ecthyma) and Its Diagnosis

Histomorphological, Histochemical and Histoenzymic Studies on the Dermis of Skin of Goat (Capra hircus)

Gross, Microanatomical and Ultrastructural Studies of Interdigital Gland in Madras Red Sheep (Ovis aries)

Identification and characterization of microRNAs in white and black coated yak

​Dermal Response to Experimental Orfvirus (ORFV) Infection in Goats, Mice and Rabbit

Comparative Study on Distribution of Sebaceous and Sweat Glands in Skin of Different Domestic Animals

Natural Infection of Goats with Orf (Contagious ecthyma) and Its Diagnosis

Dermal Response to Experimental Orfvirus (ORFV) Infection in Goats, Mice and Rabbit