Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Foal with severe breathing trouble dies from virus and bacteria
By Perez-Ecija, Alejandro et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2016·Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Equid herpesvirus 1 and rhodococcus equi coinfection in a foal with bronchointerstitial pneumonia.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 2-month-old foal was taken to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital because it was in septic shock and having severe trouble breathing. Unfortunately, the situation was very serious, and the foal was euthanized due to a poor outlook. Tests showed that the foal had an infection caused by Rhodococcus equi, along with evidence of Equid herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1). This case is notable because it is the first documented instance of a foal having both infections at the same time, which contributed to its bronchointerstitial pneumonia (a type of lung inflammation). Sadly, the treatment did not work, and the foal could not be saved.
Abstract
A 2-month-old foal with septic shock and severe respiratory distress was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Due to poor prognosis, the foal was euthanized. Histopathology showed lesions suggestive of Rhodococcus equi infection associated with a diffuse interstitial infiltrate of foamy macrophages and syncytial cells presenting large acidophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies, fibrin exudates and hyaline membranes. Bacteriological examination from lung and respiratory exudates confirmed R. equi infection, whilst immunohistochemistry and PCR yielded a positive result for Equid herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1). Several etiologies have been proposed for bronchointerstitial pneumonia in foals, although a multifactorial origin for this lesional pattern could be possible. This work is the first one describing a combined EHV-1 and R. equi infection in a foal affected with bronchointerstitial pneumonia.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27264610/