Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Equid herpesvirus 2-associated oral and esophageal ulceration in a foal.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc
- Year:
- 2008
- Authors:
- Vengust, Modest et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Pathobiology · Canada
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 1-month-old Thoroughbred foal was having trouble swallowing, was drooling, had a fever, and developed sores in its mouth and throat. Tests showed that the foal had an infection caused by Equid herpesvirus 2 (EHV-2), which was confirmed through swabs and a biopsy of the affected area. The foal received supportive care and treatment to protect its stomach for five days, and during that time, it started to recover and the sores healed. The tests also ruled out other types of equine herpesviruses. Overall, the treatment was successful, and the foal fully recovered.
Abstract
A case of a 1-month-old Thoroughbred foal with dysphagia, salivation, pyrexia, oral mucosal pustules, and esophageal ulceration is reported. Swabs from the ulcerated lesions yielded Equid herpesvirus 2 (EHV-2) in virus isolation assays, and histopathology of a biopsy from the esophageal lesion identified nuclear inclusions suggestive of herpesviruses. Immunohistochemical staining with antibodies specific for EHV-2 was positive for epithelial cells in the vicinity of the ulcer but not in more distant mucosa. Electron microscopic evaluation of the biopsy showed herpesviral particles in epithelial cells. The foal recovered over 5 days of supportive and gastroprotective therapy, and the esophageal ulcers healed. Serology and immunohistochemistry indicated that this foal likely had lesions associated with EHV-2 and not EHV-1, -4, or -5.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18987236/