Calcification associated with the nasolacrimal system of a horse: case report and mineralogic composition.

This research is based on a case study about a rare condition in a horse identified as dacryolith or nasolacrimal calculi, once perceived as nasal and ocular discharge. A mineralogic analysis was conducted after removing a calculus to gain insights about the composition and origin of the anomaly.

Case Presentation and Diagnosis

• The subject of the study was a 12-year-old Paso Fino mare, which showed symptoms of chronic nasal and ocular discharge.
• A calcification eroding through the nasal mucosa of the middle meatus was observed on the horse. Different possibilities for this mass included dacryolith (tear stone), nasal calculus, or calcified tooth root abscess.
• The anatomical location of the mass, along with the case history and progression of symptoms, indicated that it was a dacryolith or tear stone.

Treatment and Analysis

• The detected dacryolith was surgically removed from the nasal-ocular passage and then submitted for further mineralogic analysis.
• The main components found in the calculus were carbonate hydroxylapatite along with a minor NaCl halite constituent.

Significance and Further Research

• Dacryoliths, or nasolacrimal calculi, are rare occurrences in animals and are scarcely reported in humans as well.
• The process leading to dacryolith formation remains unknown, begging for more detailed research into its etiopathogenesis.
• The article provides the first case report of an equine nasolacrimal system dacryolith and its mineralogic composition, presenting scope for further scientific investigation.

Approaching this case with a mineralogical analysis provides a new avenue for exploring the root cause of such instances. These findings could significantly contribute to the veterinary field by enhancing the understanding of nasolacrimal calculi formation in animals.