Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
A case series highlighting the role of different gamma-herpesviruses in Equine Multinodular Pulmonary Fibrosis.
- Journal:
- Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde
- Year:
- 2020
- Authors:
- Scheurer, L et al.
- Affiliation:
- Equine Clinic
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This report discusses three horses diagnosed with equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF), a serious lung condition, at a veterinary clinic in Switzerland between 2012 and 2017. Two of the horses had mild symptoms of chronic lung disease, while one showed more severe signs, including fever and trouble breathing. The diagnosis was made through physical exams, X-rays, and tests on lung fluid or tissue samples. Unfortunately, all three horses were euthanized because their conditions worsened despite treatment efforts. The examination of their lung tissue after death revealed significant scarring in two horses and a different pattern in the third, with tests showing the presence of specific herpesvirus DNA in their lungs. This case highlights the importance of considering EMPF in horses with ongoing respiratory issues, especially those not improving with treatment for equine asthma.
Abstract
This case series describes three cases of equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF) diagnosed at the Clinic for Equine Internal Medicine at the University of Zurich between 2012 and 2017. Current information on etiology and treatment options are presented. Two horses showed mild signs of chronic lower respiratory tract disease and one horse was presented with acute signs of disease including recurrent fever spikes and tachypnea. Diagnosis was achieved by physical examination, radiographic findings, and PCR testing for equine herpesviruses (EHV) of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid or lung tissue obtained by biopsy. All horses were euthanized due to continuing deterioration after attempted treatment. Post mortem histological examination of lung tissue showed severe multifocal diffuse to confluent fibrosis in two cases and in another horse a discrete nodular fibrosis pattern. Panherpes nested PCR revealed the presence of equine herpesvirus 5 (EHV-5) DNA in lung tissue of one horse whereas in two other horses, asinine herpes virus 5 (AHV-5) was detected. EMPF should be considered as a differential diagnosis in horses with acute and chronic respiratory disease, including horses non-responsive to treatment for equine asthma.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32234694/