It is currently unclear whether this is an emerging disease.

Researchers suspect Alabama rot is the cause

A mystery disease causing skin lesions and kidney failure has killed at least 30 dogs in less than 18 months in England, according to new research published in the Veterinary Record.

Researchers suspect the disease is Alabama rot (cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy). The condition has been seen in the US in greyhounds for nearly 30 years, but this is the first report of a series of cases in England.

Furthermore, none of the 30 dogs in this series of cases were greyhounds and the group encompassed 15 different breeds. Researchers say it is currently unclear whether this is an emerging disease or one that was previously unrecognised.

Using data from 53 veterinary practices in northern and southern England, researchers gathered information on dogs that were presented with skin lesions, acute kidney injury with no identifiable cause and evidence of blood clots in the small vessels of the kidney.

From 1 November, 2012 and 31 March, 2014, a total of 71 possible cases occurred, but 41 were discounted due to incomplete medical records or limited investigations. Out of the remaining 30, 10 had been in the New Forest National Park shortly before developing symptoms.

Most of the dogs were presented with skin lesions and developed signs such as tiredness, loss of appetite, vomiting and fever a few days later. Authors of the research say there was no evidence of E. coli shiga toxin, which can cause sudden onset kidney damage in humans as part of haemolytic uraemia syndrome.

The majority of the dogs (24 out of 30) died or were euthanised due to the disease and six were euthanised at the request of their owners.

Acute kidney injury in the dogs was caused by damage to the small blood vessels of the kidney (renal thrombotic microangiopathy) - a relatively rare disorder. The pathology is also found in haemolytic uraemia syndrome, another rare disorder, which causes acute kidney injury and anaemia, but is not associated with skin lesions.

Researchers say it is not clear whether cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy and haemolytic uraemia syndrome are two distinct diseases, however, damage to the small blood vessels of the kidney and the skin appears to be unique to Alabama rot.

Further evaluation is needed to identify possible triggers for the disease and improve understanding of the best management options.

'Cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy as a cause of acute kidney injury in dogs in the UK' has been published online by the Veterinary Record: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/early/2015/03/13/vr.102892.abstract