Outcome of treatment in 35 cases of guttural pouch mycosis.

The research paper examines the results of treating 30 horses with guttural pouch mycosis using a specific medical procedure. The majority of the horses made a full recovery, though there were some complications, and a few horses did not survive.

Research Methodology

• The study focuses on the treatment of guttural pouch mycosis in horses. Guttural pouch mycosis is a fungal infection found in horses that can be dangerous if left untreated.
• The researchers used a treatment method that involved the ligation of the internal carotid artery on the heart side of the lesion and the washing of the infected pouch with a drug called natamycin.
• 30 horses suffering from this illness were part of the study. Aside from the main group, another sample of five horses, also afflicted with the disease but showing no symptoms of nosebleeds, were only treated with natamycin.

Results and Observations

• Out of the 30 horses in the main study, 23 showed complete recovery after the treatment.
• One horse showed persistent symptoms of laryngeal hemiplegia – paralysis on one side of the larynx, while another showed mild difficulty swallowing due to pharyngeal hemiplegia, a similar paralysis but located in the pharynx.
• The rest, totalling 5, did not survive the treatment and passed away or had to be euthanised.
• As for the group of five horses treated only with natamycin, two survived the procedure but one of them still displayed some difficulty swallowing.

Conclusion and Implications

• The study concludes that ligation of the internal carotid artery on the heart’s side of the lesion is an effective method to decrease the risk of fatal nosebleeds in horses suffering from guttural pouch mycosis.
• It also points out that some cases of pharyngeal hemiplegia can fully recover, although it could take 12 to 18 months for the horse to regain its normal functions.