An Overview on Congenital Alopecia in Domestic Animals

The document provided an overview of congenital alopecia in domestic animals, highlighting that while alopecia is commonly acquired, there are rare congenital forms linked to abnormalities in hair follicle morphogenesis. These congenital alopecias can affect the quality or quantity of hair follicles and hair fibers, with variations in clinical presentation and inheritance patterns. Histopathology is essential for distinguishing between a reduced number of normal hair follicles and qualitative abnormalities. Despite advances in understanding hair follicle morphogenesis in mice and humans, knowledge about congenital alopecias in domestic animals remained limited, leading to unsatisfactory classification. The article reviewed hair follicle morphogenesis, its molecular mechanisms, and discussed various forms of congenital alopecia, including hair follicle aplasia, dysplasia, and neuroectodermal dysplasias.