Aspergillosis granuloma in the mediastinum of a non-immunocompromised horse.

The research article discusses a case of a National Show Horse suffering from aspergillosis, a fungal infection creating a granuloma in the mediastinum. The infection was diagnosed through isolation of Aspergillus spp. and confirmed by further examination of the mediastinal mass.

Introduction

• The article reports on the occurrence of aspergillosis granuloma in the mediastinum of a non-immunocompromised horse.
• Aspergillosis is a serious fungal infection caused by the Aspergillus spp., which can cause granulomas, a mass of tissue, to form in different parts of the body.

Horse Presentation and Symptoms

• A National Show Horse was presented with a mediastinal granuloma.
• The horse exhibited various clinical signs: fever, nasal discharge, and cough.

Diagnosis

• The mediastinal mass, the granuloma in the mediastinum, was identified both radiographically and ultrasonographically, utilising imaging techniques to visualize the abnormality.
• Aspergillosis was suspected following the isolation of Aspergillus spp. from transtracheal aspirate and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples.
• Furthermore, agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID), an antigen detection method, identified the presence of serum antibodies to Aspergillus spp. in the horse.

Confirmation of Diagnosis

• The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic examination of the mediastinal mass.
• This was carried out at the necropsy examination, an autopsy performed on animals, where they examined tissue from the site of infection under a microscope.