FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2012; 52(12); 1303-1307;

Blastomycotic osteomyelitis associated with severe lameness in a horse.

Abstract: A 12-year-old Quarter horse gelding was presented for evaluation of severe right forelimb lameness, 2 draining tracts over the lateral aspect of the right proximal antebrachium, and weight loss. A presumptive diagnosis of blastomycotic osteomyelitis was established based on radiographs and cytology of the exudate. This diagnosis was confirmed at necropsy. Un hongre Quarter horse âgé de 12 ans a été présenté avec une boiterie grave du membre antérieur droit, 2 faisceaux de drainage sur l’aspect latéral de l’avant-bras droit proximal et une perte de poids. Un diagnostic par inférence d’ostéomyélite à a été posé en se fondant sur les radiographies et la cytologie de l’exsudat. Ce diagnostic a été confirmé à la nécropsie. (Traduit par Isabelle Vallières)
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2012-06-02 PubMed ID: 22654133PubMed Central: PMC3215461
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Case Reports
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 study details a case of severe bone infection (osteomyelitis) in a 12-year-old Quarter horse gelding caused by a type of fungal infection (blastomycosis) evidenced by extreme lameness, draining lesions, and weight loss. The diagnosis was based on radiographs and cell study of the drained substance and was later confirmed at necropsy.

Case Presentation and Diagnosis

  • The study revolves around a Quarter horse gelding, aged 12 years, brought for assessment due to severe lameness in the right forelimb. Alongside this, the horse was also showing signs of weight loss and two draining tracts over the lateral aspect of the right proximal antebrachium, which is the area of the foreleg between the elbow and the carpus (wrist).
  • Radiography and cytology of the exudate, which is the fluid emission from the draining tracts, were used to infer the diagnosis. The radiographs helped visualize the bone structures while the cytology provided a microscopic view of the cellular elements in the fluid. These were suggestive of a certain type of bone inflammation resulting from a fungal infection, specifically, blastomycosis.
  • Blastomycosis is a fungal infection that primarily affects the lungs and may spread through the body to impact various organs and bones. It typically occurs in dogs and people, but is very rare in horses, making this an unusual case. The disease is caused by the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis, which is found in the environment, particularly in wet soils or in association with decomposing organic matter.

Post-mortem Confirmation

  • The diagnostic presumption of blastomycotic osteomyelitis was later confirmed at necropsy. This is the autopsy of an animal where a thorough examination is conducted post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death or the extent of disease.
  • The necropsy probably involved specific histological examinations of the affected bones to provide definitive proof of blastomycotic involvement, thus cementing the diagnosis.

Cite This Article

APA
Méndez-Angulo JL, Swaab ME, Malone E, Olson EJ, Chalkley MD, Aird B, Ward C. (2012). Blastomycotic osteomyelitis associated with severe lameness in a horse. Can Vet J, 52(12), 1303-1307.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 12
Pages: 1303-1307

Researcher Affiliations

Méndez-Angulo, José L
  • Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, Veterinary Medical Center, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA. v12meanj@uco.es
Swaab, Megan E
    Malone, Erin
      Olson, Erik J
        Chalkley, Mark D
          Aird, Betsy
            Ward, Christie

              MeSH Terms

              • Animals
              • Blastomycosis / diagnosis
              • Blastomycosis / veterinary
              • Fatal Outcome
              • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
              • Horses
              • Lameness, Animal
              • Male
              • Osteomyelitis / diagnosis
              • Osteomyelitis / veterinary

              References

              This article includes 31 references
              1. Rudmann DG, Coolman BR, Perez CM, Glickman LT. Evaluation of risk factors for blastomycosis in dogs: 857 cases (1980-1990).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1992 Dec 1;201(11):1754-9.
                pubmed: 1293122
              2. Crampton TL, Light RB, Berg GM, Meyers MP, Schroeder GC, Hershfield ES, Embil JM. Epidemiology and clinical spectrum of blastomycosis diagnosed at Manitoba hospitals.. Clin Infect Dis 2002 May 15;34(10):1310-6.
                pubmed: 11981725doi: 10.1086/340049google scholar: lookup
              3. Toribio RE, Kohn CW, Lawrence AE, Hardy J, Hutt JA. Thoracic and abdominal blastomycosis in a horse.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1999 May 1;214(9):1357-60, 1335.
                pubmed: 10319179
              4. Furcolow ML, Balows A, Menges RW, Pickar D, McClellan JT, Saliba A. Blastomycosis. An important medical problem in the Central United States.. JAMA 1966 Oct 31;198(5):529-32.
                pubmed: 5953275doi: 10.1001/jama.198.5.529google scholar: lookup
              5. Bradsher RW, Chapman SW, Pappas PG. Blastomycosis.. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2003 Mar;17(1):21-40, vii.
                pubmed: 12751259doi: 10.1016/s0891-5520(02)00038-7google scholar: lookup
              6. Brömel C, Sykes JE. Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of blastomycosis in dogs and cats.. Clin Tech Small Anim Pract 2005 Nov;20(4):233-9.
                pubmed: 16317913doi: 10.1053/j.ctsap.2005.07.004google scholar: lookup
              7. Baumgardner DJ, Steber D, Glazier R, Paretsky DP, Egan G, Baumgardner AM, Prigge D. Geographic information system analysis of blastomycosis in northern Wisconsin, USA: waterways and soil.. Med Mycol 2005 Mar;43(2):117-25.
                pubmed: 15832555doi: 10.1080/13693780410001731529google scholar: lookup
              8. Pappas PG. Blastomycosis in the immunocompromised patient.. Semin Respir Infect 1997 Sep;12(3):243-51.
                pubmed: 9313296
              9. Klein BS, Vergeront JM, Weeks RJ, Kumar UN, Mathai G, Varkey B, Kaufman L, Bradsher RW, Stoebig JF, Davis JP. Isolation of Blastomyces dermatitidis in soil associated with a large outbreak of blastomycosis in Wisconsin.. N Engl J Med 1986 Feb 27;314(9):529-34.
                pubmed: 3945290doi: 10.1056/nejm198602273140901google scholar: lookup
              10. Lemos LB, Guo M, Baliga M. Blastomycosis: organ involvement and etiologic diagnosis. A review of 123 patients from Mississippi.. Ann Diagn Pathol 2000 Dec;4(6):391-406.
                pubmed: 11149972doi: 10.1053/adpa.2000.20755google scholar: lookup
              11. Harasen G. Blastomycosis as a cause of lameness.. Can Vet J 2007 Dec;48(12):1291-2.
                pmc: PMC2082002pubmed: 18189053
              12. Marcellin-Little DJ, Sellon RK, Kyles AE, Lemons CL, Kaufman L. Chronic localized osteomyelitis caused by atypical infection with Blastomyces dermatitidis in a dog.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1996 Dec 1;209(11):1877-9.
                pubmed: 8944801
              13. Wehner A, Crochik S, Howerth EW, Koenig A. Diagnosis and treatment of blastomycosis affecting the nose and nasopharynx of a dog.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2008 Oct 1;233(7):1112-6.
                pubmed: 18828722doi: 10.2460/javma.233.7.1112google scholar: lookup
              14. Oshin A, Griffon D, Lemberger K, Naughton J, Barger A. Patellar blastomycosis in a dog.. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2009 Sep-Oct;45(5):239-44.
                pubmed: 19723847doi: 10.5326/0450239google scholar: lookup
              15. BENBROOK EA, BRYANT JB, SAUNDERS LZ. A case of blastomycosis in the horse.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1948 Jun;112(855):475-8.
                pubmed: 18861666
              16. Dolente BA, Habecker P, Chope K. Disseminated blastomycosis in a miniature horse. Equine Vet Ed 2003;15:139–142.
              17. Wilson JH, Olson EJ, Haugen EW, Hunt LM, Johnson JL, Hayden DW. Systemic blastomycosis in a horse.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2006 Nov;18(6):615-9.
                pubmed: 17121096doi: 10.1177/104063870601800619google scholar: lookup
              18. STEFANIAK W. [Case of inflammation of the temporo-mandibular joint in horse due to blastomycosis].. Med Weter 1950 Dec;6(12):730-2.
                pubmed: 14815417
              19. Chapman SW, Lin AC, Hendricks KA, Nolan RL, Currier MM, Morris KR, Turner HR. Endemic blastomycosis in Mississippi: epidemiological and clinical studies.. Semin Respir Infect 1997 Sep;12(3):219-28.
                pubmed: 9313293
              20. Crews LJ, Feeney DA, Jessen CR, Newman AB, Sharkey LC. Utility of diagnostic tests for and medical treatment of pulmonary blastomycosis in dogs: 125 cases (1989-2006).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2008 Jan 15;232(2):222-7.
                pubmed: 18275389doi: 10.2460/javma.232.2.222google scholar: lookup
              21. Kalbhen C. Radiologic case study. Blastomycotic osteomyelitis.. Orthopedics 1991 Jun;14(6):722, 724, 726-8.
                pubmed: 1866358doi: 10.3928/0147-7447-19910601-18google scholar: lookup
              22. Saiz P, Gitelis S, Virkus W, Piasecki P, Bengana C, Templeton A. Blastomycosis of long bones.. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2004 Apr;(421):255-9.
                pubmed: 15123956doi: 10.1097/01.blo.0000126305.87452.82google scholar: lookup
              23. MacDonald PB, Black GB, MacKenzie R. Orthopaedic manifestations of blastomycosis.. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1990 Jul;72(6):860-4.
                pubmed: 2365718
              24. Oppenheimer M, Embil JM, Black B, Wiebe L, Limerick B, MacDonald K, Trepman E. Blastomycosis of bones and joints.. South Med J 2007 Jun;100(6):570-8.
                pubmed: 17591310doi: 10.1097/smj.0b013e3180487a92google scholar: lookup
              25. Ehni W. Endogenous reactivation in blastomycosis.. Am J Med 1989 Jun;86(6 Pt 2):831-2.
                pubmed: 2729344doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(89)90483-xgoogle scholar: lookup
              26. Gray NA, Baddour LM. Cutaneous inoculation blastomycosis.. Clin Infect Dis 2002 May 15;34(10):E44-9.
                pubmed: 11981746doi: 10.1086/339957google scholar: lookup
              27. Larson DM, Eckman MR, Alber RL, Goldschmidt VG. Primary cutaneous (inoculation) blastomycosis: an occupational hazard to pathologists.. Am J Clin Pathol 1983 Feb;79(2):253-5.
                pubmed: 6823911doi: 10.1093/ajcp/79.2.253google scholar: lookup
              28. Gnann JW Jr, Bressler GS, Bodet CA 3rd, Avent CK. Human blastomycosis after a dog bite.. Ann Intern Med 1983 Jan;98(1):48-9.
                pubmed: 6848043doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-98-1-48google scholar: lookup
              29. Perkins GA, Nydam DV, Flaminio MJ, Ainsworth DM. Serum IgM concentrations in normal, fit horses and horses with lymphoma or other medical conditions.. J Vet Intern Med 2003 May-Jun;17(3):337-42.
                pubmed: 12774976doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2003.tb02458.xgoogle scholar: lookup
              30. Chapman SW, Rogers PD, Rinaldi MG, Sullivan DC. Susceptibilities of clinical and laboratory isolates of Blastomyces dermatitidis to ketoconazole, itraconazole, and fluconazole.. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1998 Apr;42(4):978-80.
                pmc: PMC105586pubmed: 9559827doi: 10.1128/aac.42.4.978google scholar: lookup
              31. Legendre AM, Rohrbach BW, Toal RL, Rinaldi MG, Grace LL, Jones JB. Treatment of blastomycosis with itraconazole in 112 dogs.. J Vet Intern Med 1996 Nov-Dec;10(6):365-71.
                pubmed: 8947868doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1996.tb02082.xgoogle scholar: lookup

              Citations

              This article has been cited 1 times.
              1. González-Martín M, Silva V, Poeta P, Corbera JA, Tejedor-Junco MT. Microbiological aspects of osteomyelitis in veterinary medicine: drawing parallels to the infection in human medicine. Vet Q 2022 Dec;42(1):1-11.
                doi: 10.1080/01652176.2021.2022244pubmed: 34936853google scholar: lookup
              Subscribe to our newsletter
              Join 99,928 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.