Histopathological and Ultrastructural Aspects of Normal Buffalo Skin (Bubalus bubalis, LINNAEUS, 1758)

The buffalo Bubalus bubalis (LINNAEUS, 1758) was introduced into Brazil in 1890 from animals imported from the island of Trinidad to Marajó Island. Originating from the Asian continent, buffaloes were subsequently introduced into Europe, Oceania, and the Americas and are currently adapted to a wide variety of ecosystems worldwide (MARQUES & CARDOSO, 1997).

Since then, several breeding centers have been established throughout Brazil, contributing to the expansion of buffalo farming into different states and to increased imports of breeding females over the decades. According to IBGE data (2020), the Brazilian buffalo herd comprised approximately 1.5 million animals, with a strong concentration in the Northern region. The states of Pará and Amapá accounted for a substantial proportion of the national herd, confirming the importance of this region for buffalo production in the country. The survey recorded 1,103,630 animals in the Northern region; 131,493 in the Northeastern region; 201,304 in the Southeastern region; 94,337 in the Southern region; and 61,778 in the Central-Western region.

Worldwide, the main buffalo-producing countries are located on the Asian continent, particularly India, Pakistan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and China. In Europe, buffalo production is important in countries such as Italy, Bulgaria, and Russia, as well as in regions formerly comprising Yugoslavia.

These animals are raised mainly in natural grasslands and native pastures, although buffaloes also perform exceptionally well on firm ground and cultivated pastures. This adaptive capacity is of considerable economic importance because buffaloes are less selective regarding forage than other species of similar size. They can therefore utilize coarser feedstuffs and efficiently convert them into products of high nutritional value (MARQUES & CARDOSO, 1997).

This characteristic makes buffalo production particularly important in regions regarded as marginal or less favorable for conventional livestock farming, such as the seasonally flooded lowlands of the Amazon, coastal lowlands, wetlands of the Southern region, and the Pantanal. In this context, buffalo farming represents an important alternative for meat and milk production, enabling productive use of previously underutilized areas and expanding opportunities to obtain animal protein at relatively low cost (MARQUES & CARDOSO, 1997).

According to the Brazilian Association of Buffalo Breeders, in 2024 the Brazilian buffalo herd was estimated at approximately 3 million animals, corresponding to approximately 1.4% of the national cattle herd. Despite this relatively small proportion, Brazil has the largest buffalo herd in the Western world, demonstrating the potential for expansion of this activity. Approximately 30% of buffalo farms are devoted to milk production, and this sector has shown substantial growth in recent years (BRAZILIAN ASSOCIATION OF BUFFALO BREEDERS, 2024).

Buffaloes have productive aptitudes similar to those observed in cattle of European and Indian origin and can be used for milk and meat production and as draft animals. Although they are naturally more rustic, they have a high capacity for domestication, a process dating back to prehistoric times, particularly in regions of Indochina.

Among the organs directly involved in the interaction between the organism and the environment, the skin stands out as one of the largest organs of the body and is responsible for covering the body surface. In addition to acting as a physical protective barrier against external agents, it performs several essential functions for maintaining organismal homeostasis.

The skin consists of different, closely related structures and cell populations. The epidermis is of ectodermal origin and, because it lacks its own blood supply, depends on the diffusion of nutrients from the underlying tissues. During differentiation, epidermal cells undergo progressive changes that culminate in keratinization and programmed cell death. Because of its extensive contact surface with the external environment, the skin is continuously exposed to different physical, chemical, and biological agents, making its integrity essential for protecting the organism. It also includes a connective tissue portion of mesodermal origin, the dermis. Below and continuous with the dermis lies the hypodermis, which, although it has the same origin as the dermis, is not part of the skin and merely supports it and connects it to the underlying organs (ABRAHAMSOHN, 2026).