Successful outcome in a case of equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF) treated with valacyclovir

Abstract

Summary Equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF) is a progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease, which has been associated with γ‐herpesviruses. This report describes a 22‐year‐old Warmblood stallion diagnosed with EMPF on the basis of clinical examination, laboratory results, lung radiographs and ultrasound, lung biopsy and inclusion bodies found in macrophages of broncho‐alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) as well as an identification of EHV‐5 DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The horse recovered after one week of treatment with valacyclovir (40 mg/kg bwt per os q. 8 h) and is clinically healthy 2 years later. To our knowledge this is the first report describing treatment of EMPF with valacyclovir.