Multinodular pulmonary fibrosis in five horses.
Abstract: 5 horses were evaluated because of decreased appetite, weight loss, fever, cough, tachypnea, and respiratory distress. Results: Tachycardia, tachypnea, increased respiratory effort, lethargy, fever, poor body condition, and nasal discharge were detected in various combinations on initial physical examination. Evaluation of the lower portion of the respiratory tract via radiography and ultrasonography revealed a severe nodular interstitial pattern. Histologic examination of lung tissue revealed interstitial expansion of alveolar parenchyma with collagen, intraluminal accumulation of neutrophils and macrophages within the alveoli, and occasional intranuclear inclusion bodies within alveolar macrophages. Equine herpesvirus type 5 was detected in samples of lung tissue, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, or both via polymerase chain reaction assay in all cases. A diagnosis of equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF) was established. Results: Horses were provided supportive treatment and were administered a variety of medications including corticosteroids and acyclovir. Two horses survived and returned to their previous level of activity. Three horses were euthanized because of either deterioration of clinical condition (n=2) or failure to improve within 4 weeks of initiation of treatment (1). Conclusions: EMPF should be considered as a differential diagnosis for adult horses with interstitial pneumonia and should be suspected on the basis of characteristic radiographic, ultrasonographic, and histopathologic findings. Equine herpesvirus type 5 is found in association with EMPF; although the exact pathogenic role this virus plays in EMPF is unknown, equine herpesvirus type 5 may be an etiologic agent or cofactor in the development of EMPF.
Publication Date: 2008-03-18 PubMed ID: 18341449DOI: 10.2460/javma.232.6.898Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research is about diagnosing and treating equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF), a respiratory disease in horses, which was found to be associated with Equine Herpesvirus type 5.
Summary of the Study
- This study documents a case series of five horses that were examined due to different symptoms including: appetite reduction, weight loss, fever, coughing, increased breathing rate (tachypnea), and respiratory distress.
- The common symptoms observed in these horses upon physical examination included a higher heart rate (tachycardia), increased breathing effort, lethargy, fever, nasal discharge, and poor body conditions.
- The lower respiratory tract of the horses was examined using radiography and ultrasonography, revealing a severe nodular interstitial pattern, signifying pulmonary fibrosis.
- The histological examination of lung tissues showed expansion of alveolar parenchyma with collagen, intraluminal accumulation of neutrophils and macrophages within the air sacs (alveoli), and occasional presence of intranuclear inclusion bodies within the alveolar macrophages.
- The presence of Equine Herpesvirus type 5 was detected in the lung tissue samples and/or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in all the cases through a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, leading to a diagnosis of equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF).
Treatment and Outcomes
- All the horses received supportive treatment and various medications including corticosteroids and acyclovir.
- Two of the horses survived and were able to return to their previous level of activity, while the other three had to be euthanized due to either a worsening clinical condition or a failure to improve within four weeks of treatment initiation.
Conclusions of the Study
- The authors concluded that EMPF should be considered as a potential diagnosis for adult horses exhibiting symptoms of interstitial pneumonia.
- The study further identified characteristic radiographic, ultrasonographic and histopathologic findings that can support the diagnosis of EMPF.
- While the exact role of the detected Equine Herpesvirus type 5 in the pathogenesis of EMPF is still unclear, it was found in association with EMPF in all the cases. This leads the authors to suggest that Equine Herpesvirus type 5 might act as a causative agent or cofactor in the development of EMPF.
Cite This Article
APA
Wong DM, Belgrave RL, Williams KJ, Del Piero F, Alcott CJ, Bolin SR, Marr CM, Nolen-Walston R, Myers RK, Wilkins PA.
(2008).
Multinodular pulmonary fibrosis in five horses.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 232(6), 898-905.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.232.6.898 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Acyclovir / therapeutic use
- Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
- Animals
- Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Fatal Outcome
- Female
- Herpesviridae Infections / complications
- Herpesviridae Infections / diagnosis
- Herpesviridae Infections / drug therapy
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Male
- Pulmonary Fibrosis / diagnosis
- Pulmonary Fibrosis / drug therapy
- Pulmonary Fibrosis / veterinary
- Pulmonary Fibrosis / virology
- Risk Factors
- Treatment Outcome
- Varicellovirus / isolation & purification
Citations
This article has been cited 16 times.- Fakhouri F, Joseph M, Ballinger M, Shukla V, Weimar D, Novak C, Ghadiali S, Kolipaka A. Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) of Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in an Animal Model.. Invest Radiol 2023 Apr 1;58(4):299-306.
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- Scheurer L, Bachofen C, Hardmeier I, Lechmann J, Schoster A. Prevalence of Nasal Shedding of Equid Gammaherpesviruses in Healthy Swiss Horses.. Viruses 2021 Aug 25;13(9).
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