Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Vertebral body osteomyelitis in the horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1986
- Authors:
- Markel, M D et al.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In a study over four years, five young cattle were found to have abscesses in their vertebrae, which are the bones in the spine. Most lab tests didn't point to this diagnosis, so the veterinarians relied heavily on detailed neurological exams to identify the problem. In four of the cases, the animals also had abscesses in their lungs or chest area, indicating that having pneumonia before developing weakness might increase the chances of finding a vertebral body abscess. The findings suggest that careful examination and history-taking are crucial for diagnosing this condition.
Abstract
Over a 4-year period, vertebral body abscess was diagnosed in 5 young cattle. The laboratory findings in most of these cases did not suggest a diagnosis of vertebral body abscess. The most important basis for diagnosis of this condition was a thorough neurologic examination. In 4 cases, necropsy revealed abscesses in the lungs or thoracic cavity as well, suggesting that a history of pneumonia preceding paresis may favor the diagnosis of vertebral body abscess.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3957777/