Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Infection with Mycobacterium avium subspecies avium in a 10 year old Freiberger mare.
- Journal:
- Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde
- Year:
- 2009
- Authors:
- Ryhner, T et al.
- Affiliation:
- Equine Hospital
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old Freiberger mare was diagnosed with an infection caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies avium, which can lead to a disease similar to tuberculosis affecting the intestines and lungs. She showed symptoms like diarrhea, mastitis (inflammation of the mammary glands), neck stiffness, trouble breathing, and a chronic cough, along with weight loss, weakness, and low energy. Diagnosing this infection is challenging because these signs can be seen in many other conditions, and it requires taking biopsies from the rectum or colon and testing for specific bacteria. Although this type of infection is rare in horses, it should be considered when looking at diseases that cause similar symptoms. The treatment outcome is not specified in the abstract.
Abstract
In this case report a 10 year old Freiberger mare with a Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium infection is presented. This infection leads to a tuberculosis like disease with granulomatous alterations particularly of the intestines and lungs and is only sporadically reported in horses of Central Europe. Diarrhoea, mastitis and neck stiffness as well as dyspnoea and chronic cough are more specific symptoms of the infection, while weight loss, weakness and lethargy are nonspecific signs. As these clinical signs can occur in many other diseases, the diagnosis of mycobacterial infection is difficult and consists of rectum or distal colon biopsies and staining for acid-fast bacilli and bacteriological culture of granulomatous lesions. Classification of M. avium subsp. avium was achieved by PCR-RFLP. Even though an infection with Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium is rare, it belongs to the differential diagnosis of granulomatous diseases.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19722133/