Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Multinodular pulmonary fibrosis in five horses.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 2008
- Authors:
- Wong, David M et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Five horses were seen because they were eating less than usual, losing weight, running fevers, coughing, and having trouble breathing. During their check-ups, the vets found that some horses had fast heart rates, increased breathing effort, low energy, and nasal discharge. Tests showed serious lung issues, and a specific virus called equine herpesvirus type 5 was found in their lung samples, leading to a diagnosis of equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF), a severe lung condition. The horses received supportive care and medications, including corticosteroids and acyclovir, but only two of them survived and returned to normal activity, while three had to be euthanized due to worsening conditions or lack of improvement.
Abstract
CASE DESCRIPTION: 5 horses were evaluated because of decreased appetite, weight loss, fever, cough, tachypnea, and respiratory distress. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Tachycardia, tachypnea, increased respiratory effort, lethargy, fever, poor body condition, and nasal discharge were detected in various combinations on initial physical examination. Evaluation of the lower portion of the respiratory tract via radiography and ultrasonography revealed a severe nodular interstitial pattern. Histologic examination of lung tissue revealed interstitial expansion of alveolar parenchyma with collagen, intraluminal accumulation of neutrophils and macrophages within the alveoli, and occasional intranuclear inclusion bodies within alveolar macrophages. Equine herpesvirus type 5 was detected in samples of lung tissue, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, or both via polymerase chain reaction assay in all cases. A diagnosis of equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF) was established. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Horses were provided supportive treatment and were administered a variety of medications including corticosteroids and acyclovir. Two horses survived and returned to their previous level of activity. Three horses were euthanized because of either deterioration of clinical condition (n=2) or failure to improve within 4 weeks of initiation of treatment (1). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: EMPF should be considered as a differential diagnosis for adult horses with interstitial pneumonia and should be suspected on the basis of characteristic radiographic, ultrasonographic, and histopathologic findings. Equine herpesvirus type 5 is found in association with EMPF; although the exact pathogenic role this virus plays in EMPF is unknown, equine herpesvirus type 5 may be an etiologic agent or cofactor in the development of EMPF.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18341449/