Antifungal non-invasive soak under general anaesthetic to treat fungal rhinitis in an Australian Quarter Horse gelding at pasture.

The research deals with a rare case of fungal infection in the upper respiratory tract of a horse which was treated successfully with a unique method of bathing the nasal and sinus areas while the horse was under general anaesthetic. The horse recovered fully after the treatment, with for the first time such a method was reported in Australia.

Introduction

The article initiates a discussion on Mycotic rhinitis, a rare infectious disease occurring in horses across the globe. Even rarer are the incidents reported in Australia. The infection which inflicts damage to the upper respiratory tract can occur in all species, with a lower prevalence in horses compared to dogs or humans. The disease is found to be related to various pathogens and the clinical indications directly correlate with the consequent damage in the upper respiratory tract.

Methods and Case Overview

• The case being documented is that of a 6-year-old Quarter Horse gelding in Queensland, Australia, which presented symptoms of chronic nasal discharge and dyspnoea. The horse had been unsuccessfully treated medically for the same over a duration of 9 months.
• Results from the horse’s culture depicted a mix growth of Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula apart from secondary bacterial species.
• In the treatment procedure, the horse was anaesthetised and placed in a chest-laying (sternal recumbency) position. The nasal passages and sinuses were immersed with fluconazole and dimethylsulfoxide for an hour, twice, across an interval of 4 weeks.
• The horsed also received brief courses of systemic antimicrobials and corticosteroids.

Results and Conclusion

• An endoscopic examination conducted 4 months post the treatment demonstrated clinical resolution of the rhinitis with remaining scar tissue.
• The owners reported that the horse showed signs of recovery after the treatment and was able to perform athletically.
• The abstract ends by highlighting the fact that Mycotic rhinitis, being an unusual disease can be tough to treat. However, the report showcases a technique for topical bathing of the nose and sinus under general anaesthetic that was not only well tolerated and easy to execute, but also resulted in a successful clinical outcome.