Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Marsupialization of an abdominal abscess caused by Serratia marcescens in a mare.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1987
- Authors:
- Rigg, D L et al.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old female horse had an abscess (a pocket of infection) in her abdomen, which was found through a rectal exam and some abnormal test results. The first treatment with an antibiotic called procaine penicillin for three weeks didn't help her get better. When the veterinarians performed surgery, they found the abscess attached to the wall of her left ventral colon and drained it using a technique called marsupialization. They identified the bacteria Serratia marcescens as the cause of the infection. After the surgery, the mare fully recovered and is now able to breed again.
Abstract
An intra-abdominal abscess was diagnosed in a 7-year-old mare by palpation per rectum and from abnormal clinicopathologic findings. Initial treatment with procaine penicillin for 21 days was unsuccessful in halting the deterioration of the physical condition of the mare. Surgical exploration of the abdomen revealed a mass in the wall of the left ventral colon. Drainage was achieved by marsupialization. Serratia marcescens was isolated from the abscess. Recovery appeared complete, and the mare has resumed broodmare capability.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3301767/