Canine keratinocyte culture and use of a cultured epidermal autograft in a dog

Abstract

SummaryA seven month old female Yorkshire Terrier was admitted with severe contracture and scarring of the ventral abdomen, thorax and limbs, after a scald injury. Surgical management consisted of multiple releasing and reconstruction skin flaps. Keratinocytes, harvested from a 1 cm2 full thickness skin biopsy, were cultured on a lawn of irradiated feeder cells, and used as a cultured epithelial autograft on the remaining skin deficits. Epithelialisation of the deficits was complete at the first dressing change, five days after application. This is the first report of successful culture of canine keratinocytes suitable for use in skin reconstruction in a clinical case.