Cranioesophageal pythiosis in a horse

Background: Pythiosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is caused by oomycete Pythium insidiosum. This illness affects several species including humans and horses. Equine is the most affected species, having no predisposition for breed, gender, or age. It is usually shown in cutaneous and subcutaneous forms, and the lesions, which grow quickly and are hard to treat, are located mainly in the extremities. The diagnosis is made via epidemiology, clinical signs, and macroscopic and microscopic aspects of the lesion. This study describes a case of cranioesophageal pythiosis in a horse, examining the epidemiological, clinical and pathological characteristics. Case: A 12-year-old male quarter horse, weighing 515 kg was taken to the Veterinary Hospital at the University Center of Espírito Santo (UNESC). The horse had an increase in volume in the cranioesophageal region, coughing, difficulty breathing, and a runny nose. On clinical examination, the horse showed an enlargement in the submandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes, subcutaneous edema in the larynx region, and a temperature of 38.2ºC. According to the owner, cough was recurrent and had lasted about 12 months even after treatment with different kinds of antimicrobials. On radiographic exam, there was a marked decrease in the tracheal lumen and increased soft tissue radiopacity in the region adjacent to the narrowing. The animal was taken to surgery to remove the mass, but he died because of complications during surgery. The animal’s owner did not allow necropsy, but a fragment of the mass in the cranioesophageal was removed and sent for histological examination. The fragment was fixed in 10% formalin and processed using routine histological analysis. Macroscopically, the mass was light yellowish and ulcerated, and it measured 7.0 × 5.0 × 5.0 cm. In the middle of the ulcerated areas, there were yellow and...

Cranioesophageal pythiosis in a horse

Background: Pythiosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is caused by oomycete Pythium insidiosum. This illness affects several species including humans and horses. Equine is the most affected species, having no predisposition for breed, gender, or age. It is usually shown in cutaneous and subcutaneous forms, and the lesions, which grow quickly and are hard to treat, are located mainly in the extremities. The diagnosis is made via epidemiology, clinical signs, and macroscopic and microscopic aspects of the lesion. This study describes a case of cranioesophageal pythiosis in a horse, examining the epidemiological, clinical and pathological characteristics. Case: A 12-year-old male quarter horse, weighing 515 kg was taken to the Veterinary Hospital at the University Center of Espírito Santo (UNESC). The horse had an increase in volume in the cranioesophageal region, coughing, difficulty breathing, and a runny nose. On clinical examination, the horse showed an enlargement in the submandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes, subcutaneous edema in the larynx region, and a temperature of 38.2ºC. According to the owner, cough was recurrent and had lasted about 12 months even after treatment with different kinds of antimicrobials. On radiographic exam, there was a marked decrease in the tracheal lumen and increased soft tissue radiopacity in the region adjacent to the narrowing. The animal was taken to surgery to remove the mass, but he died because of complications during surgery. The animals owner did not allow necropsy, but a fragment of the mass in the cranioesophageal was removed and sent for histological examination. The fragment was fixed in 10% formalin and processed using routine histological analysis. Macroscopically, the mass was light yellowish and ulcerated, and it measured 7.0 × 5.0 × 5.0 cm. In the middle of the ulcerated areas, there were yellow and...(AU)

Equine poisoning by coffee husk (Coffea canephora) in northern Espírito Santo, Brazil

Background: Brazil is the largest coffee (Coffea canephora and Coffea arabica) producer in the world, and Espírito Santostate is the second largest national producer of this commodity. Caffeine poisoning has been described in several animal andhuman species and is generally associated with accidental and/or intentional ingestion of caffeine-containing products. Inhorses, there are few reports in the literature about coffee poisoning, and most animals show clinical signs of excitability,involuntary muscle tremors, and chewing movements. Therefore, the objectives of the present study are to describe theclinical and epidemiological aspects of coffee (Coffea canephora) poisoning in horses in northern Espírito Santo, Brazil.Cases: Two horses from northern Espírito Santo presented with clinical signs of excessive sweating, reluctance to enterthe trailer, muscle tremors, aggression, incoordination, constant tremors of the lips and tongue, chewing movements, andfalling. Clinical signs began after the animals were confined in stalls containing coffee husk (Coffea canephora) for atleast one week. After three days in the stall, the horse began to show clinical signs characterized by excessive sweating,reluctance to enter the trailer, aggression, and incoordination. On physical examination, there was marked dehydration,tachycardia (120 bpm), tachypnea (80 mpm) and a body temperature of 39.1ºC. In addition, the animal had cecum andventral colon hypomotility. The horse was treated as soon as it was admitted to the hospital with a 10 ml / h intravenousdrip of Ringer lactate solution; 100 ml intravenous mercepton every 24 hours; 10 ml intramuscular vitamin B1 every 24hours, and 1.1 ml intravenous acepromazine 1%; when it showed increased excitability, it was treated for neurological signsand recovered four days after admission. The second animal was a three-year-old female Mangalarga Marchador horse,weighing 280 kg. The animal was confined...

Equine poisoning by coffee husk (Coffea canephora) in northern Espírito Santo, Brazil

Background: Brazil is the largest coffee (Coffea canephora and Coffea arabica) producer in the world, and Espírito Santostate is the second largest national producer of this commodity. Caffeine poisoning has been described in several animal andhuman species and is generally associated with accidental and/or intentional ingestion of caffeine-containing products. Inhorses, there are few reports in the literature about coffee poisoning, and most animals show clinical signs of excitability,involuntary muscle tremors, and chewing movements. Therefore, the objectives of the present study are to describe theclinical and epidemiological aspects of coffee (Coffea canephora) poisoning in horses in northern Espírito Santo, Brazil.Cases: Two horses from northern Espírito Santo presented with clinical signs of excessive sweating, reluctance to enterthe trailer, muscle tremors, aggression, incoordination, constant tremors of the lips and tongue, chewing movements, andfalling. Clinical signs began after the animals were confined in stalls containing coffee husk (Coffea canephora) for atleast one week. After three days in the stall, the horse began to show clinical signs characterized by excessive sweating,reluctance to enter the trailer, aggression, and incoordination. On physical examination, there was marked dehydration,tachycardia (120 bpm), tachypnea (80 mpm) and a body temperature of 39.1ºC. In addition, the animal had cecum andventral colon hypomotility. The horse was treated as soon as it was admitted to the hospital with a 10 ml / h intravenousdrip of Ringer lactate solution; 100 ml intravenous mercepton every 24 hours; 10 ml intramuscular vitamin B1 every 24hours, and 1.1 ml intravenous acepromazine 1%; when it showed increased excitability, it was treated for neurological signsand recovered four days after admission. The second animal was a three-year-old female Mangalarga Marchador horse,weighing 280 kg. The animal was confined...(AU)