Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pony with neck swelling and abscess from Streptococcus equi
By Furniss, C et al.·Published in Journal of the South African Veterinary Association·2007·Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Eustachian tube diverticulum chondroids and neck abscessation in a case of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old grey crossbred pony mare was brought to the vet with a painful swelling in her neck and a stiff neck. X-rays and ultrasounds showed a large abscess near her cervical vertebra, which was confirmed to be infected with Streptococcus equi, a bacteria that can cause serious illness in horses. The vet lanced the abscess and removed 189 chondroids (small, hard masses) from her Eustachian tubes during surgery. After flushing the tubes and treating them with penicillin multiple times, the pony was cleared of the infection and returned to health.
People also search for: pony neck swelling treatment · abscess in horse neck · Streptococcus equi in horses
Abstract
A 12-year-old, grey, crossbred pony mare was presented with a swelling in the neck over the area of the 2nd cervical vertebra (C2), which was found to be painful on palpation. The neck was held stiffly. Radiography of the cervical region showed a focal area of increased radio-opacity over the dorsal, caudal and lateral aspect of the dorsal spinous process of C2. Ultrasound confirmed the presence of a hypoechoic area approximately 15 cm in diameter superimposed over the dorsal spinous process of C2. An aspirate was taken of the mass, which revealed purulent exudate confirming the diagnosis of an abscess. The abscess was lanced with a scalpel blade and samples of the purulent material revealed a pure culture of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi. The guttural pouches (Eustachian tube diverticulae (ETD)) were then evaluated endoscopically and multiple chondroids were seen filling most of the right ETD. Surgery was subsequently performed and 189 chondroids were removed via a right-sided hyovertebrotomy. The ETDs were flushed and penicillin installed into both ETDs on 3 different occasions via a catheter introduced using a fibre optic scope. This procedure was repeated until a negative culture status was achieved in order to eliminate the carrier status.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18237042/