Final answer:
Skin fragility in younger animals with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is caused by a deficiency in type-III collagen, due to mutations in collagen synthesis or a lack of the enzyme hydroxylase, leading to weakened skin that is easily damaged.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Skin Fragility
The cause of skin fragility in younger animals with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is primarily due to a deficiency in type-III collagen. Collagen is vital for providing strength and elasticity to the skin. In Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, mutations in the amino acid sequences during the synthesis of collagen, or the deficiency of the enzyme hydroxylase which helps form collagen, lead to the progressive deterioration of the collagen fibers. This deterioration affects many body parts including the skin, causing it to be fragile and easily damaged.
Collagen diseases like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can manifest in various forms, with skin and vascular problems being major symptoms. Other related disorders, such as pseudoxanthoma elasticum and osteoarthritis imperfecta, show the broad impact of connective tissue abnormalities. In conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, the role of collagen and the extracellular matrix is crucial to understanding the associated skin fragility.