Identification of the first New Zealand case of equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis.
Abstract: A 10-year-old polo mare presented with a history of weight loss, poor condition and inappetance. Results: The mare was tachycardic, tachypnoeic and febrile. Harsh lung sounds were auscultated over all lung fields. The mare initially responded to treatment with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and bronchodilators. Throughout the course of treatment, there was a variable lymphocytosis, monocytosis and fluctuation in concentrations of fibrinogen. The mare also developed a mild anaemia, most likely due to chronic disease. Despite treatment, the mare's condition deteriorated over the following 2 months, and she was subject to euthanasia. Results: On post mortem examination, white to pale tan, large coalescing fibrous nodules up to 5 cm in diameter were found distributed throughout the lungs. Histopathology revealed a multifocally severe interstitial pneumonia with superimposed bronchiolar or alveolar inflammation, fibrosis, Type II pneumocyte hyperplasia and histiocytic intranuclear inclusion bodies, consistent with the findings previously reported for cases of equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF). Methods: Equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis based on characteristic gross and histopathological findings. The diagnosis was strengthened by detection of DNA for equine herpesvirus 5 in the lung tissue. Conclusions: This report describes the first recognised case of EMPF in New Zealand. The affected horse did not respond to treatment and was subject to euthanasia. The prognosis for horses with EMPF, based on a limited number of cases worldwide, is currently considered poor.
Publication Date: 2014-03-07 PubMed ID: 24597743DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2014.899933Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Case Reports
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The article discusses the first identified case of equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF) in New Zealand, observed in a polo mare with severe pneumonia and inflammation. Despite treatment, the horse’s condition worsened and eventually had to be put down. In the end, the diagnosis was done by finding DNA for equine herpesvirus 5 in the lung tissue.
Medical History and Symptoms of the Polo Mare
- The research records the unfortunate case of a 10-year-old polo mare suffering from weight loss, poor health, lack of appetite, rapidly fast heart rate, and fever
- The horse exhibited harsh lung sounds over all lung fields indicating respiratory distress
- During the course of the treatment, doctors observed lymphocytosis, monocytosis, and unstable levels of fibrinogen. Lymphocytosis refers to higher than normal amount of lymphocytes in the blood while monocytosis is a similar condition related to monocytes
- The mare developed mild anaemia which was linked to her chronic disease
Treatment and Progression of the Disease
- The course of treatment initially included antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and bronchodilators. These medications were meant to fight any bacterial infections, reduce inflammation of the lungs, and widen air passages in the lungs, respectively
- Despite these interventions, the mare’s health steadily worsened over the following two months, leading to the decision to administer euthanasia
Post Mortem Examination & Diagnosis
- Post-mortem examination revealed large fibrous nodules up to 5 cm in diameter distributed throughout the mare’s lungs, indicating severe tissue damage from disease
- More detailed histopathology review showed that the mare had multifocally severe interstitial pneumonia with additional bronchiolar or alveolar inflammation, fibrosis, Type II pneumocyte hyperplasia and histiocytic intranuclear inclusion bodies, a pneumonia that happens between the alveoli, inflammation in the bronchi or the air sacs, fibrosis or scarring of lung tissue, abnormal enlargement of type II pneumocytes, and irregular presence of histiocytic cells in the nucleus
- All these results were consistent with the characteristics previously reported for cases of EMPF
- Upon thorough examination, the diagnosis of equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis was made, compounded by detection of DNA for equine herpesvirus 5 in the lung tissue
Conclusions
- This research article outlines the first known case of EMPF in New Zealand. The mare did not respond adequately to treatment and eventually had to be euthanised
- The study concludes that the prognosis for horses diagnosed with EMPF, based on limited cases worldwide, is not promising
Cite This Article
APA
Dunowska M, Hardcastle MR, Tonkin FB.
(2014).
Identification of the first New Zealand case of equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis.
N Z Vet J, 62(4), 226-231.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2014.899933 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- a Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences , Massey University , PO Box 11 222, Palmerston North 4474 , New Zealand.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
- Clonixin / analogs & derivatives
- Clonixin / therapeutic use
- Female
- Herpesviridae
- Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Lung / pathology
- New Zealand / epidemiology
- Pulmonary Fibrosis / epidemiology
- Pulmonary Fibrosis / pathology
- Pulmonary Fibrosis / veterinary
- Pulmonary Fibrosis / virology
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Wondimagegnehu K, Leta S, Amenu K, Negussie H. Molecular detection and assessment of the epidemiological risk factors associated with equine herpesvirus 2 and 5 in working equids in central Ethiopia. Vet Med Sci 2022 Nov;8(6):2396-2403.
- Temesgen T, Getachew Y, Negussie H. Molecular Identification of Equine Herpesvirus 1, 2, and 5 in Equids with Signs of Respiratory Disease in Central Ethiopia. Vet Med (Auckl) 2021;12:337-345.
- Marenzoni ML, Stefanetti V, Danzetta ML, Timoney PJ. Gammaherpesvirus infections in equids: a review. Vet Med (Auckl) 2015;6:91-101.
- Craven A, Todd-Donato A, Stokol T, Liepman R, Glasberg I, Wilkins P, Luethy D, Wong D, Schoster A, van den Brom-Spierenburg AJ, Tomlinson JE. Clinical findings and outcome predictors for multinodular pulmonary fibrosis in horses: 46 cases (2009-2019). J Vet Intern Med 2024 May-Jun;38(3):1842-1857.
- Perdrizet UG, Hill JE, Sobchishin L, Singh B, Fernando C, Bollinger TK, Misra V. Tissue and cellular tropism of Eptesicus fuscus gammaherpesvirus in big brown bats, potential role of pulmonary intravascular macrophages. Vet Pathol 2024 Jul;61(4):550-561.
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