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The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2021; 62(4); 403-407;

Bacterial meningitis after dental extraction in a 17-year-old horse.

Abstract: Dental extractions in horses may result in bacteremia, which can lead to systemic complications. Bacterial meningitis following oral cheek tooth extractions in a 17-year-old Thoroughbred gelding is described in this report. The bacterial meningitis was confirmed by histopathology. The gelding was presented for evaluation of intermittent fever, loose feces, and mild colic signs which started 5 days after cheek tooth extraction. This case illustrates a rare complication associated with oral tooth extraction in a horse and highlights the unusual presenting features of meningitis. Key clinical message: Bacterial meningitis secondary to oral cheek tooth extraction should be considered as differential diagnosis; particularly in cases with the development of pyrexia a few days after the procedure. Méningite bactérienne après extraction dentaire chez un cheval de 17 ans. Les extractions dentaires chez les chevaux peuvent entraîner une bactériémie, ce qui peut amener des complications systémiques. Un cas de méningite bactérienne à la suite d’extractions buccales de dents jugales chez un hongre pur-sang de 17 ans est décrite dans ce rapport. La méningite bactérienne a été confirmée par histopathologie. Le hongre a été présenté pour évaluation d’une fièvre intermittente, de selles molles et de signes de coliques légers qui ont commencé 5 jours après l’extraction de la dent jugale. Ce cas illustre une complication rare associée à l’extraction dentaire orale chez un cheval et met en évidence des caractéristiques inhabituelles de la méningite.Message clinique clé :La méningite bactérienne secondaire à l’extraction buccale des dents jugales doit être considérée comme un diagnostic différentiel, en particulier dans les cas de développement d’une pyrexie quelques jours après l’intervention.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).
Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
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Publication Date: 2021-04-20 PubMed ID: 33867555PubMed Central: PMC7953920
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research discusses a rare case of bacterial meningitis in a 17-year-old horse following a dental extraction. Highlighting the unusual symptoms of meningitis, the report emphasizes the need to consider the condition as a potential post-procedural complication, especially with the onset of fever days after dental extraction.

Introduction

  • This case study report involves a 17-year-old Thoroughbred gelding that developed bacterial meningitis following a dental extraction procedure.
  • It emphasizes that while dental extractions in horses are routine, they may sometimes cause bacteremia, leading to severe systemic complications.

Presentation of Case

  • The horse was brought for evaluation five days post-extraction due to symptoms including intermittent fever, loose feces, and minors signs of colic, all of which had started after the extraction.
  • These unexpected symptoms made the case unique and led the researchers to diagnose bacterial meningitis, a rare complication following dental extraction in horses.

Diagnosis and Histopathology

  • The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis was confirmed via histopathology – an examination of the microanatomy of diseased tissue.
  • The causative agent for meningitis in this case was the bacteria that had presumably entered the horse’s system during/after the extraction, causing bacteremia.

Key Clinical Message

  • This case brings attention to bacterial meningitis as a potential and severe secondary complication after equine dental extractions, especially given the onset of fever in the days following the procedure.
  • The study suggests that veterinarians should include bacterial meningitis in their differential diagnosis when faced with similar clinical signs following tooth extraction in horses.

Conclusion

  • While the report focused on one exceptional case, the potential for bacteremia leading to bacterial meningitis after dental surgeries necessitates careful monitoring and should be part of diagnostic considerations.
  • It also underscores the importance of understanding the unusual presenting features of meningitis in equine clinical practice.

Cite This Article

APA
Arndt S, Kilcoyne I, Heney CM, Wong TS, Magdesian KG. (2021). Bacterial meningitis after dental extraction in a 17-year-old horse. Can Vet J, 62(4), 403-407.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 62
Issue: 4
Pages: 403-407

Researcher Affiliations

Arndt, Stefanie
  • William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Arndt, Heney, Wong), Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (Kilcoyne), Department of Medicine and Epidemiology (Magdesian), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Kilcoyne, Isabelle
  • William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Arndt, Heney, Wong), Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (Kilcoyne), Department of Medicine and Epidemiology (Magdesian), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Heney, Colleen M
  • William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Arndt, Heney, Wong), Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (Kilcoyne), Department of Medicine and Epidemiology (Magdesian), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Wong, Talia S
  • William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Arndt, Heney, Wong), Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (Kilcoyne), Department of Medicine and Epidemiology (Magdesian), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Magdesian, K Gary
  • William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Arndt, Heney, Wong), Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (Kilcoyne), Department of Medicine and Epidemiology (Magdesian), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteremia / veterinary
  • Cheek
  • Horse Diseases / etiology
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / etiology
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / veterinary
  • Tooth Extraction / adverse effects
  • Tooth Extraction / veterinary

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