Histoplasmosis in horses.
Abstract: Histoplasmosis was diagnosed in nine horses during 1986-1990. The infection with Histoplasma capsulatum caused granulomatous placentitis and abortion in one mare in the 7th month of gestation and three mares in the 10th month. Four newborn foals died from severe granulomatous pneumonia within a few days of birth; and a weanling thoroughbred developed granulomatous pneumonia and lymphadenitis at 5 months of age.
Publication Date: 1993-07-01 PubMed ID: 8408780DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9975(08)80239-3Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study deals with Histoplasmosis, a fungal infection, identified in nine horses between 1986 and 1990. The infection led to severe inflammations and abortion in pregnant mares, caused pneumonia in newborn foals leading to their death, and affected a young thoroughbred’s lung and lymph nodes.
Histoplasmosis Defined
- In this study, the focus is on the fungal infection known as Histoplasma capsulatum or Histoplasmosis.
- Histoplasmosis is a disease that affects various animals, including horses, and is caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum.
- This infection often leads to severe health problems in the affected animal, including inflammations, pneumonia, and in some cases, abortion in pregnant animals.
Observations and Findings
- The study reports the diagnosis of Histoplasmosis in nine horses between the years 1986 and 1990.
- Of these, one mare in the seventh month of gestation experienced granulomatous placentitis, an inflammation of the placenta, ultimately leading to an abortion.
- Three other mares in the tenth month of their gestation periods also contracted this infection, leading to similar health issues.
- Moreover, four newborn foals, infected with Histoplasmosis, developed severe granulomatous pneumonia, an inflammation of the lungs, and died within a few days of their birth.
- Even a weanling (a young horse, usually between six months and a year old) thoroughbred got infected, developing both granulomatous pneumonia and lymphadenitis (an infection of the lymph nodes) at five months old.
Significance of Research
- The research holds significance because it helps us understand the impact of Histoplasmosis on horses’ health, particularly mares in their gestation period and newborn foals.
- The findings can aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of affected horses saving many from severe health issues, and in some cases, death.
- It also underlines the need for preventive measures, further research, and raises the necessity for creating possible therapies for Histoplasmosis in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Rezabek GB, Donahue JM, Giles RC, Petrites-Murphy MB, Poonacha KB, Rooney JR, Smith BJ, Swerczek TW, Tramontin RR.
(1993).
Histoplasmosis in horses.
J Comp Pathol, 109(1), 47-55.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0021-9975(08)80239-3 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Science, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40511.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Fungal / analysis
- Female
- Histoplasma / immunology
- Histoplasma / isolation & purification
- Histoplasmosis / diagnosis
- Histoplasmosis / epidemiology
- Histoplasmosis / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Incidence
- Liver / microbiology
- Liver / pathology
- Lung / microbiology
- Lung / pathology
- Placenta / microbiology
- Placenta / pathology
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / diagnosis
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Mapengo RE, Maphanga TG, Jofre GI, Rader JA, Turissini DA, Birkhead M, Kwabia SA, Sepúlveda VE, Buitrago MJ, Teixeira MdM, Barker BM, Alanio A, Sturny-Leclère A, Garcia-Hermoso D, Govender NP, Matute DR. Genomic epidemiology of Histoplasma in Africa. mBio 2025 Sep 10;16(9):e0056425.
- Sepúlveda VE, Goldman WE, Matute DR. Genotypic diversity, virulence, and molecular genetic tools in Histoplasma. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024 Jun 27;88(2):e0007623.
- Kogut MH, Genovese K, Moyes RB, Stanker LH. Evaluation of oral, subcutaneous, and nasal administration of Salmonella enteritidis-immune lymphokines on the potentiation of a protective heterophilic inflammatory response to Salmonella enteritidis in day-old chickens. Can J Vet Res 1998 Jan;62(1):27-32.
- Johnston PF, Reams R, Jakovljevic S, Andrews DA, Heath SE, DeNicola D. Disseminated histoplasmosis in a horse. Can Vet J 1995 Nov;36(11):707-9.
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