Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Funisitis associated with leptospiral abortion in an equine placenta.
- Journal:
- Veterinary pathology
- Year:
- 2005
- Authors:
- Sebastian, M et al.
- Affiliation:
- University of Kentucky · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This report discusses a case involving a Thoroughbred foal that was born prematurely due to a condition called funisitis, which is inflammation of the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord showed a yellow discoloration and, under a microscope, there were signs of inflammation with certain immune cells and a specific type of bacteria called Leptospira. Additionally, there was severe inflammation of the placenta, but it did not affect all parts of the placenta. The findings in this case highlight some differences between funisitis in horses and a similar condition seen in humans. Overall, the treatment and outcome details are not provided, so we can't determine if the treatment was effective.
Abstract
Funisitis, inflammation of the umbilical cord, is well recognized in human placentas. This report describes a case of funisitis associated with leptospiral infection in the placenta of a Thoroughbred foal born prematurely. The umbilical cord had diffuse superficial yellow discoloration along its entire length. Microscopic evaluation showed an exudate of neutrophils admixed with fibrin on the surface. Warthin-Starry staining showed spirochetes in the Wharton's jelly of the umbilical cord. A locally extensive, severe placentitis not involving the star and allantoic cystic hyperplasia were the other lesions observed in the allantochorion. Leptospira funisitis is similar to the funisitis of congenital syphilis in humans, although there are some major microscopic differences. In Leptospira funisitis, lesions were limited to the cord surface, whereas in lesions in human umbilical cords with Treponema pallidum infection, the changes are observed mostly around the vessels and in the Wharton's jelly.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16145212/