November 2005 Review
FELLOWSHIP GUIDELINES
VETERINARY DERMATOLOGY
ELIGIBILITY
1.
The candidate shall meet the eligibility prerequisites for Fellowship outlined in the Blue
Book.
2.
Membership of the College must be achieved prior to the Fellowship examination.
3.
Membership may be in any discipline.
OBJECTIVES
To demonstrate that the candidate has sufficient training, experience, knowledge and
accomplishment in Dermatology to meet the criteria for registration as a specialist in this field.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The candidate is expected to have:
1.
Extensive practical experience and accomplishment relevant to Australia or New Zealand
and an understanding of dermatological conditions on a global basis.
2.
Recognition as an authority by veterinary colleagues and by other professional people
working in the field.
3.
Critically evaluated the current literature and concepts in the field of veterinary
dermatology.
The candidate is expected to know:
For Paper I,
1.
The normal structure and function of the skin, including regional variances of all domestic
species.
2.
The basic immune function and the role of the skin as an immunologic organ, as well as the
pathophysiology of immunologic disorders and comparative aspects of diseases amongst
domestic species as well as humans.
3
The physiology of hormones and the pathophysiology of endocrine disorders with
dermatologic manifestation.
4.
The normal ecology of cutaneous flora as well as the pathophysiology of bacterial, viral,
fungal and parasitological organisms that incite skin disease in all species.
For Paper II,
1.
The aetiology, clinical signs, pathogenesis, diagnosis, management and prognosis of all the
infectious and non-infectious cutaneous diseases of every domestic species including
laboratory animals and the infectious diseases exotic to Australasia which could be
introduced.
2.
The cutaneous manifestations of systemic disease, including a detailed knowledge of the
internal medicine pertaining to these diseases.
3.
The pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of all drugs and therapeutic products used in
veterinary dermatology.
4.
The general principles of cutaneous oncology in all species, including tumours that affect the
skin, paraneoplastic conditions and antineoplastic therapy.
5.
The comparative aspects of dermatologic disease occurring in humans and animals.
The candidate is expected to be competent at:
1.
Cytology, histopathology, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and electron
microscopy of normal and diseased skin.
EXAMINATIONS
Refer to the Blue Book.
Information published in journals until April 30th of the year of the examination will be examinable.
For Veterinary Dermatology the Practical Examination will have two parts:
Practical Part A: Histopathology and Cytology
Practical Part B: Digital images and photomicrographs
2 to 3 hours
2 to 3 hours
TRAINING PROGRAMS
Refer to the Blue Book
In addition to the 96 weeks of directly supervised training (or equivalent) required by the Blue
Book, candidates must complete the following additional requirements.
1.
Minimum Case Number Thresholds to be Accomplished
The Board of Examiners and Council advises candidates that case number thresholds are
a guide.
Candidates should see at least 600 Dermatology cases with an additional 40 cases drawn
from the following species: horses (minimum of 25 cases) production animals, laboratory
animals, exotic species and birds.
2.
Breadth of Cases
The training should include cases which span the breadth of the categories listed under
"ACTIVITY LOG CATEGORIES".
TRAINING IN RELATED DISCIPLINES
Refer to the Blue Book
Candidates for Fellowship in Dermatology must spend time as stipulated by the Blue Book in any
or all of the following related disciplines: dermatopathology, parasitology, microbiology,
immunology, soft tissue surgery, oncology and laboratory animal medicine. Candidates must spend
some time training in internal medicine.
In addition to training in related disciplines, the candidate must acquire proficiency in
dermatopathology, and histologic and cytologic assessment of skin disease. This may be obtained
by regular instruction by a dermatologist or pathologist with the relevant skills and by evaluation of
their own case material.
EXTERNSHIPS
Refer to the Blue Book
All candidates must complete at least one externship. At the discretion of the FTCC, a further
externship may be required. Externships should be used to gain exposure to areas within the
program which are deficient, particularly with respect to species under-represented in the case log.
Details of completed externships should be entered in the 6 monthly supervisor reports.
ACTIVITY LOG CATEGORIES
The Activity Log (AL) should be recorded using Blue Book Section 8.5 (An example of an Activity
Log Entry is included in Appendix 1)

Candidates should indicate the cases for which they were primary clinician.

Cases for which the candidate was not primarily responsible should only be included if the
Candidate had significant active input into case management. This may include cases seen
during externship training. Active input requires an independent case assessment, the
formulation of differential diagnoses and a diagnostic plan and the provision of therapeutic and
prognostic advice as appropriate for each case

Any re-examination of the case should be entered as an addendum under the date of the
original visit. Follow up and the nature of the follow up (telephone contact etc) should also
be included.

Revisit examinations do not count towards case numbers.
The Activity Log Summary (ALS) should be kept in the format of BOTH Section 8.7 and Section
8.8. The ALS should not include revisit examinations.
Categories for Section 8.8 are as follows:
Immune mediated diseases
Hypersensitivity diseases
Infectious diseases (parasitic, bacterial, fungal and viral)
Endocrinopathies
Cutaneous neoplastic diseases
Hereditary and congenital disorders
Metabolic and nutritional disorders
Environmental insults: physical and chemical
PUBLICATIONS
Refer to the blue book
RECOMMENDED READING LIST:
The candidate is expected to research the depth and breadth of the knowledge of the discipline.
This list is intended to guide the candidate to some core references (indicated by an *) and source
material. The list is not comprehensive and is not intended as an indicator of the content of the
examination.
1. Basic Science of the Skin
Medical Texts
*Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine. 6th ed. Vol. I and II 2003; and 5th ed. Vol I and
II, 1999. Eds: Freedberg et al. McGraw-Hill Inc.
Physiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology of the Skin. 2nd ed. Vol. 1 and II. 1991. Ed:
Goldsmith. Oxford University Press.
The Structure and Function of the Skin. 3rd ed. 1974 Eds: Montagna and Parakkal. New York
Academic Press Pathophysiology of Dermatologic Diseases. 2nd ed. 1993. Eds: Soter and Baden.
McGraw-Hill Inc.
Human and Basic Science Journals
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
British Journal of Dermatology
Archives of Dermatology
International Journal of Dermatology
New England Journal of Medicine
2. Immunology
Texts
*Veterinary Immunology. An Introduction. 7th ed. 2004 Tizard. WB Saunders Veterinary Clinical
Immunology. 1989. Eds: Halliwell and Gorman. WB Saunders.
Roitt’s Essential Immunology. 10th ed. 2001 Blackwell Science.
*Cellular and Molecular Immunology. 5th ed. 2003 Eds: Abbas et al. WB Saunders.
Journals
*Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology
*Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
3. Clinical Dermatology
Veterinary Dermatology Texts
*Small Animal Dermatology. Eds: Scott, Miller, and Griffin 6th ed. 2001. WB
Saunders.
*Advances in Veterinary Dermatology Vol. I-V. 1990, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2005. Balliere Tindall.
*Allergic Skin Diseases of Dogs and Cats. 2nd ed. 1997. Eds: Reedy, Miller, and Willemse. WB
Saunders.
Veterinary Clinics of North America Small Animal Practice. September 1988, Pruritus; November
1990, Advances in Clinical Dermatology; July 1995 Feline Dermatology.
Current Veterinary Dermatology. The Art and Science of Therapy. 1993. Eds: Griffin, Kwochka
and Macdonald. Mosby Year Book.
*The American College of Veterinary Dermatology Task Force on Canine Atopic Dermatitis.
Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology. 81:2001. Ed: Olivry. Elsevier Science.
Manual of Small Animal Dermatology. 2nd ed. 2002 Eds: Foil and Foster BSAVA.
Small Animal Dermatology. A colour atlas and therapeutic guide. 2001. Medleau and Hnilica. WB
Saunders.
*Equine Dermatology. 2003. Scott. WB Saunders.
Practical Equine Dermatology. 2003 Lloyd, Littlewood, Craig and Thomsett. Blackwell Publishing.
*Manual of Equine Dermatology. 1999. Pascoe and Knottenbelt. WB Saunders.
A Colour Atlas of Equine Dermatology. 1990. Pascoe. Wolfe Publishing Ltd.
Large Animal Dermatology. 1988. Scott. WB Saunders.
Veterinary Clinics of North America. Large Animal Practice. November 1993, Sheep and Goats;
March 1984, Large Animal Dermatology; July 1995 Dermatology.
Veterinary Journals
*Veterinary Dermatology
4. Dermatohistopathology
Veterinary Text
*Small Animal Dermatology. Eds: Scott, Miller, and Griffin 6th ed. 2001. WB Saunders.
*Skin Diseases of the Dog and Cat: Clinical and Histopathological Diagnosis. 2 nd ed. 2005.Gross,
Ihrke, Walder, Affolter. Blackwell Publishing.
*Surgical Pathology of the Dog and Cat (Skin)1994. Yager and Wilcox Wolfe.
The skin and appendages. In: Pathology of Domestic Animals Vol 1. 4th ed. 1993. Yager and Scott.
Ed: Jubb. KVF New York, Academic Press.
Skin Tumors of the Dog and Cat. Eds: Goldschmidt and Shofer. 1st ed 1992. Pergamon.
Tumors in Domestic Animals. 3rd edition. 1990 Ed: Moulton. California Press.
Medical Texts
Histopathology of the Skin. 8th ed. 1997. Ed: Elder. Lippincott
Histologic Diagnosis of Inflammatory Skin Diseases: a method by pattern analysis. 1978.
Ackerman. Lea and Febiger.
Pinkus’s Guide to Dermatohistopathology. 5th ed. 1991. Eds: Mehregan and Hashimoto.Appleton
and Lange.
5. General Medicine
Texts
*Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine: Diseases of the Dog and Cat. Vol I and II 6 th ed. 2005.
Eds: Ettinger and Feldman. Elsevier Saunders.
*Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 3rd ed, 2005. Greene. WB Saunders.
*Canine and Feline Endocrinology and Reproduction. 3rd ed. 2004. Feldman and Nelson. WB
Saunders.
Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy: Small Animal Practice. 13th ed, 2000. Ed: Bonagura WB
Saunders.
*Small Animal Internal Medicine. 3rd ed, 2003 Eds: Nelson and Couto, Mosby.
Veterinary Medicine: A Textbook of the Diseases of Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Goats and Horses. 9th ed.
2000. Eds: Radostits et al. WB Saunders.
Current Therapy in Equine Medicine 5th ed. 2003 Ed: Robinson. WB Saunders.
Equine Medicine and Surgery 5th ed. 1999 Eds: Colahan et al. Mosby.
The Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents. 4th ed. 1995 Eds: Harkness and Wagner.
Williams and Wilkins.
Journals
*Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association
*Journal of American Animal Hospital Association
*Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
*American Journal of Veterinary Research
*Compendium on Continuing Veterinary Education
*Veterinary Pathology
*Journal of Small Animal Practice
Equine Practice
Veterinary Medicine
Seminars in Veterinary Medicine
*Equine Veterinary Journal
Cornell Veterinarian
*Australian Veterinary Journal
Australian Veterinary Practitioner
Other resources
Study Guide for the ACVSc Fellowship Examination in Veterinary Dermatology produced by and
available from the Dermatology Chapter.
Appendix 1
Examples of a Dermatology Activity Log entries:
(Provide key for all abbreviations used eg * indicates candidate was primary clinician; AH = antihistamines;
SS = skin scraping; IC = intracellular; ED = elimination diet; etc).
*Quirk, Buster; Canine, Shih Tzu X, MN, 1y 5m, 11-07-2005, DISEASE TYPE = Parasitic
History
Physical Exam
Diagnostic Tests
Diagnosis
11-07-2005
HISTORY: Crusting, pruritic, Extensive irregular
SS (Deep, trunk): Confirmed:
painful dermatitis of feet,
adherent crusts with
+ve demodex
Generalised
dorsal trunk & neck, face. 9
peripheral scaling,
(>10/4X field,
juvenile onset
month duration. Gradually
hyperpigmentation –
adults, larvae)
demodicosis
progressive.
dorsal, lateral
Cytology
TREATMENT: AH – mild
thorax/abdomen,
(impression):
improvement. Prednisolone
perioral; swelling,
demodex,
(course 2wks ago) – no
haemorrhagic
neutrophils,
obvious change. Revolution
discharge all feet
bacteria (cocci
monthly.
+++ IC)
15-08-2005
HISTORY: Marked
Patchy alopecia,
SS: +ve demodex Confirmed:
improvement – skin &
hyperpigmentation,
(1 adult per HPF) Demodicosis –
general disposition
scaling on dorsal
responding to
TREATMENT: Current:
trunk, mild scaling
treatment
Ivermectin 300ug/kg sid
and erythema on feet
18-10-2005
HISTORY: Further
Normal skin
SS: -ve demodex Confirmed:
improvement
Demodicosis –in
TREATMENT: Current:
remission
Ivermectin 300ug/kg sid
Treatment
Plan/Outcome
Ivermectin
300ug/kg
PO SID
Cephalexin
BID x 4wk
minimum
Recheck 4wks
Ivermectin
continued
at same
dose
Rpt SS in 6w
Ivermectin
– same
dose
Rpt SS in 4w
*McGurren, Nanook; Canine, Bichon Friese, MN, 3y 7m, 14-07-2005, DISEASE TYPE = Hypersensitivity
History
Physical Exam
Diagnostic Tests
Diagnosis
Treatment
13-07-2005
HISTORY: Recurrent
Marked generalised
SS (Deep Possible:
Cephalexin
pruritus & dermatitis
white non-adherent
trunk): -ve
Atopy, Food AR
BID 3wk.
ventrum, feet, back. 9 month
scale dorsum, flanks,
Cytology (Tape – Confirmed:
Pyoderm-S
duration. Gradually
legs, head; erythema
dorsum, feet):
Superficial
shampoo
progressive.
& excoriations
neutrophils +++,
pyoderma
twice wkly.
TREATMENT: Variety
axillae, inguinal,
bacteria (cocci +
cortisone (injectable, oral,
interdigital areas;
to ++ IC);
intermittent; last oral 1wk
focal crusts face,
occasional yeast
ago) – definite improvement;
distal limbs; salivary
(feet).
topical – no change; AH –
staining feet, axillae,
partial improvement; Surolan inguinal areas
for ears
07-09-2005
HISTORY: Marked
Mild superficial
Cytology (Tape): Possible:
AH trial,
improvement skin
scaling trunk, legs
no neuts,
Food AR
FA,
appearance; pruritus still
bacteria, yeasts
Confirmed:
Continued
present head, feet, ventrum IDT: Strong +ve
Atopy; Resolved
1-2 X wkly
reduced to 5/10
dust mites,
superficial
shampoo
TREATMENT: ED x 8wks
pollens
pyoderma
completed
Plan/Outcome
Start ED (K/P)
Diet
rechallenge;
IT commenced