A clinical case of equine fungal placentitis with reference to hormone profiles and ultrasonography.
Abstract: Fungal placentitis is an infectious disease inducing abortion in pregnant mares. In the present report, we describe a field case of abortion caused by fungal placentitis with consecutive examinations. The progesterone level and combined thickness of the uterus and placenta (CTUP) were abnormal before the onset of clinical signs. Additionally, the estradiol level started to change before the appearance of clinical signs. Abnormal serum amyloid A values and an abnormal fetal heart rate were observed after the onset of clinical signs. The present report demonstrates that the progesterone level and CTUP may be adequate as early diagnostic markers of fungal placentitis and bacterial infection. Endocrinological evaluation based on cutoff values or serial measurements were also useful for early diagnosis.
Publication Date: 2016-02-03 PubMed ID: 26858578PubMed Central: PMC4739143DOI: 10.1294/jes.26.129Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This paper is a case study of a horse that suffered from fungal placentitis, an infection that can lead to miscarriage. The study outlines the abnormal hormone profiles and ultrasound images observed during the progress of the disease.
Introduction
- A case of equine fungal placentitis, a severe infection that leads to abortions in pregnant horses, is described in this report.
- The disease was confirmed through consecutive examinations, observing abnormal hormone levels and ultrasound indications even before the clinical signs really manifested.
Diagnostics
- Two main diagnostic markers were noted as indicative of the disease’s early stage: the progesterone level in the mare’s body and the Combined Thickness of the Uterus and Placenta (CTUP).
- These metrics were found to be abnormal before the horse started showing explicit signs of the infection, indicating that they may be useful as early predictors of fungal placentitis and other bacterial infections in horses.
- Along with these, alterations in the level of estradiol, another hormone, were also observed prior to the appearance of clinical signs.
Further Confirmation
- As the disease evolved, abnormal values of serum amyloid A and fluctuations in the fetal heart rate were noted, acting as additional signs of the progressing infection.
Conclusion
- This report indicates that particular hormone levels (specifically progesterone and estradiol) and combined thickness of the uterus and placenta (CTUP) might serve as early warning signs for fungal placentitis in horses.
- Moreover, endocrinological evaluations based on either cutoff values or serial measurements were found to be beneficial for early diagnosis, potentially improving treatment outcomes for affected equines.
Cite This Article
APA
Murase H, Niwa H, Katayama Y, Sato F, Hada T, Nambo Y.
(2016).
A clinical case of equine fungal placentitis with reference to hormone profiles and ultrasonography.
J Equine Sci, 26(4), 129-133.
https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.26.129 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Science Division, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Hokkaido 057-0171, Japan.
- Epizootic Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Tochigi 329-0412, Japan.
- Epizootic Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Tochigi 329-0412, Japan.
- Equine Science Division, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Hokkaido 057-0171, Japan.
- Equine Science Division, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Hokkaido 057-0171, Japan.
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
References
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Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Kimura Y, Haneda S, Aoki T, Furuoka H, Miki W, Fukumoto N, Matsui M, Nambo Y. Combined thickness of the uterus and placenta and ultrasonographic examinations of uteroplacental tissues in normal pregnancy, placentitis, and abnormal parturitions in heavy draft horses. J Equine Sci 2018;29(1):1-8.
- Toishi Y, Tsunoda N, Kume K, Nagaoka K, Watanabe G, Taya K. PATHFAST, a novel chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay for measuring estradiol in equine whole blood and serum. J Reprod Dev 2016 Dec 20;62(6):631-634.
- Li L, Li S, Ma H, Akhtar MF, Tan Y, Wang T, Liu W, Khan A, Khan MZ, Wang C. An Overview of Infectious and Non-Infectious Causes of Pregnancy Losses in Equine. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jul 2;14(13).
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