Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Death of a horse infected experimentally with Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary record
- Year:
- 2007
- Authors:
- Franzén, P et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 19-year-old horse was part of a study where six horses were intentionally infected with a bacteria called Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which causes a disease known as equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis. This horse showed signs of illness for just two days before it suddenly died. Before its death, it had symptoms and lab results similar to the other infected horses. An examination after death showed serious bleeding in its organs and issues in the kidneys, which are signs of a severe condition that has also been seen in humans with a similar infection. Unfortunately, the horse did not survive the infection.
Abstract
A 19-year-old horse that was one of a group of six horses infected experimentally with Anaplasma phagocytophilum for a study of the pathogenesis of equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis died suddenly two days after first showing clinical signs of disease. The clinical signs and laboratory findings observed before its death were similar to all those of the other infected horses, and to previous reports of this disease. A postmortem examination revealed widespread haemorrhaging in its internal organs, and vasculitis and thrombosis in the kidneys. These changes are consistent with disseminated intravascular coagulation, which has previously been reported in human beings infected with the presumably identical agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17259454/