Coccidioidomycosis in horses: 15 cases (1975-1984).
Abstract: Fifteen confirmed cases of equine coccidioidomycosis that originated in California and Arizona were studied retrospectively. Age, breed, and sex varied among affected horses. The most common historical problems were chronic weight loss (53% of cases) and persistent cough (33% of cases). The most frequent physical examination abnormalities were related to the respiratory tract (60% of cases). In 27% of cases, horses had signs of musculoskeletal pain. Horses consistently had hyperproteinemia, hyperfibrinogenemia, leukocytosis, and neutrophilia. An antemortem etiologic diagnosis was made for 11 (73%) horses, all of which had positive serologic tests for coccidioidomycosis. Of the seropositive horses, 5 (46%) also had positive cultures for Coccidioides immitis. One horse died naturally. The other 14 were euthanatized. Prolonged treatment with specific antifungal agents was attempted in 4 horses without apparent benefit. Postmortem abnormalities included pulmonary parenchymal lesions (64% of cases), thoracic lymphadenopathy (57% of cases), hepatic parenchymal involvement (43% of cases), and osteomyelitis (29% of cases). The lesions were granulomatous or pyogranulomatous and C immitis was observed microscopically in 83% of cases.
Publication Date: 1992-09-15 PubMed ID: 1399805
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article studies fifteen confirmed cases of equine coccidioidomycosis from California and Arizona, examining the common physical abnormalities, symptoms, diagnosis, and postmortem findings. The findings could provide valuable insights into this condition in horses.
Research Context
- The research is a retrospective analysis of 15 confirmed cases of coccidioidomycosis in horses originating in California and Arizona. All the affected horses were of varied age, breed, and sex.
Symptoms
- The study found that the most common problems observed historically were chronic weight loss (in 53% of cases) and persistent cough (33% of cases).
- The most frequent physical abnormalities detected during examination were related to the respiratory tract (60% of cases).
- In 27% of horses, signs of musculoskeletal pain were observed.
- The horses also showed consistent hyperproteinemia, hyperfibrinogenemia, leukocytosis, and neutrophilia.
Diagnosis
- An etiologic diagnosis while the horse was still alive was made for 11 horses (73% of cases). All of these horses tested positive for Coccidioides immitis (the fungus causing the disease) in serologic tests.
- Of these seropositive horses, 5 (46%) also yielded positive cultures for Coccidioides immitis.
- One horse died naturally while the other 14 were euthanized.
- Attempts at prolonged treatment with specific antifungal agents on four horses showed no apparent benefit.
Postmortem Findings
- Abnormalities observed postmortem predominantly included pulmonary parenchymal lesions (64% of cases), thoracic lymphadenopathy (57% of cases), hepatic parenchymal involvement (43% of cases), and osteomyelitis (29% of cases).
- The lesions were either granulomatous or pyogranulomatous. Coccidioides immitis was detected microscopically in 83% of the cases.
Cite This Article
APA
Ziemer EL, Pappagianis D, Madigan JE, Mansmann RA, Hoffman KD.
(1992).
Coccidioidomycosis in horses: 15 cases (1975-1984).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 201(6), 910-916.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California, Davis 95616.
MeSH Terms
- Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
- Animals
- Arizona / epidemiology
- California / epidemiology
- Coccidioidomycosis / drug therapy
- Coccidioidomycosis / epidemiology
- Coccidioidomycosis / pathology
- Coccidioidomycosis / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Ketoconazole / therapeutic use
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Macías-Rioseco M, Sheley M, Ochoa J, Carvallo-Chaigneau FR, Uzal FA. Coccidioidomycosis in 26 horses in California, USA: case series and review of the literature.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2022 Nov;34(6):995-999.
- Johnson L, Gaab EM, Sanchez J, Bui PQ, Nobile CJ, Hoyer KK, Peterson MW, Ojcius DM. Valley fever: danger lurking in a dust cloud.. Microbes Infect 2014 Aug;16(8):591-600.
- Zalatnai A, Zala J, Sándor G. Coccidioidomycosis in Hungary. The first import case.. Pathol Oncol Res 1998;4(2):147-51.
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