Black Hair Follicular Dysplasia in Black and White Saluki Dogs: Differentiation from Color Mutant Alopecia in the Doberman Pinscher by Microscopic Examination of Hairs

The study examined black hair follicular dysplasia in four black and white female Saluki puppies, which developed varying degrees of hair loss in black-haired areas. Histological analysis showed that follicles in these areas were dilated and irregularly shaped, with keratin and melanin clumps. In contrast, white-haired areas appeared normal. Microscopic examination revealed that Salukis had fewer visible macromelanosomes compared to blue Doberman Pinschers with color mutant alopecia. Scanning electron microscopy identified cuticular abnormalities in some white and all black hairs of the Salukis, with several black hairs showing shallow, oval defects. Blue hairs from Dobermans exhibited similar but more extensive changes.