Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Acute recumbency associated with Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in a horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 2004
- Authors:
- Nolen-Walston, Rose D et al.
- Affiliation:
- Hospital for Large Animals · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
An 11-year-old Hanoverian-cross gelding was brought in because he suddenly started having trouble walking, was lying down a lot, and had a fever. The horse and others in the stable had recently been exposed to ticks, which can carry diseases. Tests showed some issues with his blood, indicating he had an infection caused by a bacteria called Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Other possible causes for his condition were ruled out, and he started to improve quickly after receiving an intravenous treatment with a medication called oxytetracycline. He made a full recovery within six days.
Abstract
An 11-year-old Hanoverian-cross gelding was evaluated because of acute onset of ataxia, recumbency, and fever. At the stable, this and other horses had recently been infested with ticks. Results of analysis of a sample of CSF were within reference limits, but hematologic abnormalities included lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, mild anemia, and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in neutrophils that were consistent with Anaplasma phagocytophilum (previously Ehrlichia equi). Results of serum biochemical analyses were characteristic of infection and included high, unconjugated bilirubin concentration. Other common causes of recumbency in horses, such as equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, infection with eastern or western equine encephalitis viruses and equine herpesvirus-1, West Nile viral encephalitis, trauma, and metabolic disease, were ruled out. The horse responded quickly to i.v. administration of oxytetracycline and recovered fully within 6 days.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15230452/