Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Molluscum contagiosum in three horses.
- Journal:
- Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
- Year:
- 1991
- Authors:
- Lange, L et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Pathology
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Three horses in Zambia were diagnosed with a skin disease called molluscum contagiosum, which is caused by a virus. The horses had slow-growing lesions on various parts of their bodies, including their chests, legs, and faces. These lesions were hairless, soft, and bled a lot when the horses were groomed. The older lesions were raised and had a waxy look after some of the surface material was removed. Unfortunately, attempts to grow the virus in a lab did not work, but the diagnosis was confirmed through microscopic examination.
Abstract
Suspected molluscum contagiosum was diagnosed in 3 horses in the Chingola district of Zambia. The horses were found to be suffering from a slow progressive skin disease with lesions on the chest, shoulders, inner and lateral aspects of the fore- and hindlimbs, the face, fetlocks, pasterns and on the lateral surfaces of the body. The lesions varied from 4 to 20mm in diameter, were hairless but covered by soft keratin projections which, when removed, left a raw elevated base tightly adherent to the epidermis. These lesions bled profusely when the animals were groomed. Older lesions were well circumscribed, raised above the surface, devoid of hair and after removal of grey-white keratin flakes, had a depigmented waxy appearance. Microscopically cytoplasmic inclusions containing many pox virions were found. Attempts at culturing the virus were unsuccessful.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1941891/