Equine cutaneous fungal granuloma: a study of 44 lesions from 34 horses.
Abstract: Forty-four nodular and noninvasive cutaneous fungal granulomas were identified in 34 horses over a 14.5-year period. Cutaneous fungal granulomas were most common in young horses (mean age 6.1 +/- 4.2 years; range 1-19 years). There was no apparent breed or sex bias. Granulomas were either single or multiple, and most often occurred in the skin of the head and neck. The characteristic histological finding was a nodular dermal mass with a mean diameter of 7.3 mm (range 2.5-20 mm) and an intact overlying epithelium. Lesions most often exhibited intense lymphocytic inflammation, with admixed pyogranulomatous inflammation associated with a small to moderate number of fungal elements. Causative fungi were both pigmented and nonpigmented organisms of variable morphology. Penetrating plant material was identified in three cases. Granulomas caused by nonpigmented fungi were most common in horses from wet regions. Both pigmented and nonpigmented fungi were found in granulomas from horses in dry regions. Cutaneous fungal granulomas occurred in February through November, with peaks in April and July. No correlation of yearly incidence with annual average temperature or rainfall was detected. This study confirms that equine cutaneous fungal granuloma is relatively common in horses in the Pacific Northwest. Morphology of causative fungi was variable, but the signalment, history, and clinical and overall histological features were very similar. Surgical excision was curative.
Publication Date: 2006-07-11 PubMed ID: 16827670DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2006.00525.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research discusses a study over a 14.5-year period, on 44 cutaneous fungal granulomas identified in 34 horses. The study concludes that equine cutaneous fungal granulomas, a noninvasive nodular skin condition, are relatively common among horses in the Pacific Northwest. Cure was achieved through surgical removal of the granulomas.
Study Sample and Timescale
- The research was conducted on a sample of 34 horses, with 44 identified lesions over a span of 14.5-years.
- The age of the horses had a mean value of 6.1 years, with a range from 1 to 19 years. This suggests that younger horses were most commonly affected.
- No explicit bias towards a specific horse breed or sex was observed throughout the study.
Characteristics of the Granulomas
- The granulomas, which were identified to be either single or multiple, were mainly found on the head and neck regions of the horses.
- Their histology revealed them to be nodular masses in the dermis with a mean diameter of 7.3 mm, having an intact overlying epithelium.
- Most often, these lesions exhibited severe lymphocytic inflammation, along with pyogranulomatous inflammation that was associated with moderate amounts of fungal elements.
Causative Fungi and Granuloma Incidence
- The causative agents for these granulomas were both pigmented and nonpigmented fungi of varying morphology.
- In three cases, penetrating plant material was identified within the granulomas.
- It was observed that granulomas caused by nonpigmented fungi were more common in horses located in wet regions, whereas horses in dry regions exhibited granulomas caused by both pigmented and nonpigmented fungi.
- The occurrence of these granulomas was found more common from February to November, peaking in April and July.
- No correlation was found between the yearly incidence of the granulomas and the average temperature or rainfall per year.
Conclusion and Treatment
- After studying the characteristics, causative agents, and occurrence pattern of these granulomas, it was observed that equine cutaneous fungal granuloma occurs quite frequently among horses in the Pacific Northwest region.
- Although the morphology of the causative fungi varied, the signalment, historical, clinical and overall histological features amongst the entire sample were quite similar.
- Surgery proved to be an effective curative treatment for these granulomas.
Cite This Article
APA
Valentine BA, Taylor GH, Stone JK, Halse RR.
(2006).
Equine cutaneous fungal granuloma: a study of 44 lesions from 34 horses.
Vet Dermatol, 17(4), 266-272.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3164.2006.00525.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA. Beth.Valentine@oregonstate.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Dermatomycoses / epidemiology
- Dermatomycoses / veterinary
- Female
- Granuloma / epidemiology
- Granuloma / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Mitosporic Fungi / isolation & purification
- Northwestern United States / epidemiology
- Records / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Dworecka-Kaszak B, Biegańska MJ, Dąbrowska I. Occurrence of various pathogenic and opportunistic fungi in skin diseases of domestic animals: a retrospective study. BMC Vet Res 2020 Jul 17;16(1):248.
- Jennings JE. Phaeohyphomycosis due to Pyrenophora phaeocomes and Drechslera nobleae in an Appaloosa mare. Can Vet J 2016 Apr;57(4):431-3.
- Schaffer PA, Wobeser B, Dennis MM, Duncan CG. Non-neoplastic lesions of equine skin in the central United States and Canada: a retrospective study. Can Vet J 2013 Mar;54(3):262-6.
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