Are only humans affected by alopecia areata?
Alopecia areata-like hair loss can develop in several species. Potentially any mammal with hair could develop alopecia areata but so far the condition has been confirmed in just a few species. • Cats (Siamese) • Cattle (Holstein) • Dogs (Bernese Mountain Dog, Daschund, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Magyar Vizsla, Miniature Poodle, Mixed Breed Dogs) • Horses (Appaloosa, Palomino) • Mice (C3H/HeJ, C3H/HeJBir, A/J) • Non-human Primates (Chimpanzee, Spider Monkey, Stump-Tailed Macaque, White-fronted Capuchin) • Rats (BD-IX, DEBR) The list is mostly based on isolated case reports from veterinarians who have found patchy hair loss in these animals in association with an inflammatory infiltrate around affected hair follicles. Despite the inflammation, hair loss is non-scarring which means that spontaneous regrowth can occur. Hair follicle-specific autoantibodies, similar to those associated with the human condition have been found in alopecia areata affected mice, rats, dogs and horses.
