Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse with throat mass treated for fungal infection - what to know
By Toner S et al.·2024·Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Canada·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Long-term follow-up of laryngeal <i>Rhinosporidium seeberi</i> diagnosed by PCR and treated with laser ablation and voriconazole nebulization in a retired thoroughbred polo horse.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 21-year-old retired Argentinian thoroughbred horse was found to have a growth on its epiglottis during a routine procedure. The mass was diagnosed as an infection caused by a fungus called Rhinosporidium seeberi. To treat it, the horse underwent laser surgery to remove the mass and received antifungal medication through a nebulizer for ten days. Unfortunately, the infection required two additional laser surgeries and oral medication to fully resolve. After 2.5 years of follow-up, the horse showed no signs of remaining fungal spores, indicating a successful treatment outcome.
People also search for: horse throat infection treatment · Rhinosporidium seeberi in horses · laser surgery for horse epiglottis growth
Abstract
A 21-year-old retired polo Argentinian thoroughbred horse from a teaching herd was presented for a routine bronchoalveolar lavage demonstration, during which an incidental finding of a granulomatous mass on the dorsal aspect of the epiglottis was made. <i>Rhinosporidium seeberi</i> was suspected from a histological section obtained from an initial biopsy, and the mass was removed <i>via</i> laser surgery for cytology and PCR. Sequencing of the PCR amplicons confirmed the diagnosis of <i>R. seeberi.</i> A treatment protocol of nebulized voriconazole for 10 d postoperatively was used. Long-term follow-up required 2 more laser surgeries plus oral fluconazole to resolve the remaining fungal spores. However, 2.5 y later, there was no evidence of remaining fungal spores. Key clinical message: Horses from endemic regions can potentially be exposed to <i>R. seeberi.</i> Based on its travel history, this horse may have contracted the infection in South America, California, or Alberta. Treatments administered, including diode laser resection, voriconazole antifungal nebulization, and oral fluconazole administration, were successful but required repeated interventions.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/38952752