Pituitary abscess and basilar empyema in 4 horses.

This research article presents findings from an examination of four horses suffering from acute neurological disease, wherein a rare condition called pituitary abscess was discovered in conjunction with basilar empyema.

What is a pituitary abscess?

• A pituitary abscess is a rare condition characterized by an accumulation of pus in the pituitary gland due to an infection.
• Prior to this research, pituitary abscess has been documented in humans, ruminants (like cows and sheep), and, on one occasion, a horse.

Causes of Pituitary Abscess

• This condition can be caused by either a direct extension of an infection from a nearby site, or through hematogenous spread – where the infection reaches the pituitary gland via the circulatory system from another part of the body.
• In humans, pituitary abscess has been found to result from meningitis, sphenoid sinusitis, and osteomyelitis.

Evidence in Ruminants

• Reviewing 20 cases of pituitary abscess in ruminants, the researchers found no documentation of direct infection.
• However, over half the cases displayed infection elsewhere in the body, indicating hematogenous spread may be the more likely source.

Common Organisms Involved

• Corynebacterium pyogenes, a type of bacteria, was found to be the most common isolate from cattle.
• Apart from this, a variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms and a species of Mycoplasma called Mycoplasma argini have been found in pituitary abscesses in ruminants.

Present Study

• In this study, both basilar empyema (infection in the deepest part of the brain) and pituitary abscessation were detected during post-mortem examinations of four horses suffering acute neurological diseases.

This article presents an uncommon instance of pituitary abscess in horses, hinting at the need for further study to understand the causes, symptoms, and treatment for the condition in equine patients.