Phaeohyphomycotic Rhinitis Caused by Bipolaris hawaiiensis in a Horse.
Abstract: This case represents the first reported case of Bipolaris hawaiiensis infection in an equid, and its aggressive clinical course. This case provides important descriptive and prognostic information for horses diagnosed with phaeohyphomycotic rhinitis. A 19-year-old American Quarter Horse mare was presented for second opinion of stertor and exercise intolerance of four-month duration. Endoscopy revealed generalized, proximal nasal edema, and computed tomography identified a soft tissue mass eroded through the rostral nasal bone. Biopsy of the mass was identified as a fungal granuloma caused by B. hawaiiensis resulting in chronic invasive fungal rhinitis. Treatment options were limited because of invasive infection, financial constraints, fungal sensitivity results, and published accounts of in vivo behavior of the organism. The infection progressed, resulting in euthanasia. In this case of equine phaeohyphomycosis, B. hawaiiensis was likely traumatically introduced into the patient's nasal cavity. Its aggressive nature in an apparently immunocompetent patient is noteworthy, in the face of surgical debridement and attempted medical therapy. Therapeutic decisions were challenging in this case based on limited in vivo efficacy data in equids, pharmacokinetic challenges with available antifungal agents, and client-driven limitations regarding management of airway restriction.
Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2019-10-01 PubMed ID: 31732112DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102798Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research discusses the first-ever case of an infection in a horse caused by the fungus Bipolaris hawaiiensis. This infection triggered an aggressive, severe medical case termed phaeohyphomycotic rhinitis.
Context and Scope
- The study represents a unique case of equine phaeohyphomycosis, a fungal disease in horses triggered by Bipolaris hawaiiensis.
- Phaeohyphomycosis is a group of infections caused by darkly pigmented fungi, characterized by the presence of eumycetoma.
- The paper presents a deep description of the clinical course and prognosis for horses afflicted with phaeohyphomycotic rhinitis.
Case Details
- The patient was a 19-year-old American Quarter Horse mare, showing symptoms of stertor (noisy breathing) and exercise intolerance over a four-month duration.
- The horse was referred for a second opinion. Diagnostic tests including endoscopy and CT scans revealed a nasal edema and soft tissue mass that had degraded the rostral nasal bone.
- A biopsy of the mass confirmed it as a fungal granuloma.
- The disease progression was rapid, eventually leading to the need for euthanasia.
Identified Causative Organism
- Bipolaris hawaiiensis was found to be the causative agent of the infection.
- The study suggests that the fungus was likely introduced into the horse’s nasal cavity through trauma.
- The aggressive progression of the disease was observed even though the horse was immunocompetent, demonstrating the severity of this particular case.
Treatment and Therapeutic Challenges
- The treatment choices were limited due to the invasive nature of the infection, financial constraints, fungal sensitivity results, and knowledge of the fungus’s behavior in the host organism.
- There were difficulties in undertaking therapeutic decisions since there was limited in vivo efficacy data concerning equids, and issues with pharmacokinetic properties of available antifungal agents.
- Management concerning airway restriction was further complicated due to client-driven limitations.
Cite This Article
APA
Legere RM, Wooldridge AA, Sandey M, Hanson RR, Cole R.
(2019).
Phaeohyphomycotic Rhinitis Caused by Bipolaris hawaiiensis in a Horse.
J Equine Vet Sci, 82, 102798.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102798 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL. Electronic address: rml0039@auburn.edu.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL.
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Ascomycota
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Mitosporic Fungi
- Mycoses / diagnosis
- Mycoses / veterinary
- Phaeohyphomycosis / diagnosis
- Phaeohyphomycosis / veterinary
- Rhinitis / diagnosis
- Rhinitis / veterinary
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