Pleural effusion associated with acute and chronic pleuropneumonia and pleuritis secondary to thoracic wounds in horses: 43 cases (1982-1992).
Abstract: Case records of 43 horses with pleural effusion associated with acute pleuropneumonia, chronic pleuropneumonia, or pleuritis secondary to a penetrating thoracic wound were reviewed to determine the predisposing factors, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition. Acute pleuropneumonia was diagnosed in 36 horses, the majority of which were Thoroughbreds (89%). Of 22 (61%) horses that were in race training at the onset of illness, 11 (31%) had been recently transported a long distance and 4 (11%) had evidence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Physical examination findings and hematologic data were nonspecific. The most consistent abnormality was hyperfibrino-genemia. Affected horses were treated with antibiotics, thoracic drainage, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and supportive care. Twenty-two (61%) horses were discharged from the hospital, with the mean duration of hospitalization for those discharged being 23 days. Nine (25%) horses were euthanatized and 5 (14%) died. Bacterial culturing of thoracic fluid resulted in growth in 30 of the 36 (83%) horses. The finding of anaerobic bacteria in thoracic fluid was not associated with a lower survival rate (62%) than the overall survival rate (61%). Four horses with chronic pleuropneumonia had a history of lethargy and inappetence for > 2 weeks. Actinobacillus equuli was isolated, either alone or in combination with other bacteria, from thoracic fluid of these 4 horses. Each horse was treated with broad spectrum antibiotics and made a rapid recovery. Three horses with acute pleuritis secondary to penetrating thoracic wounds also had nonspecific clinical signs, apart from the wound and a large volume of pleural effusion. Bacteriologic isolates from these horses differed slightly from those of horses with acute pleuropneumonia.
Publication Date: 1994-12-15 PubMed ID: 7744650
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research paper studies the case records of 43 horses diagnosed with pleural effusion caused by acute or chronic pleuropneumonia or pleuritis following thoracic injuries. It aims to identify predisposing factors, treatment methods, and diagnostic strategies in such cases.
Objective and Methodology
- The study analyzes case records of 43 horses diagnosed with pleural effusion, a condition where excess fluid accumulates in the chest gap lining the lungs. This is related to acute pleuropneumonia, chronic pleuropneumonia, or pleuritis, which occurs due to penetrating thoracic wounds.
- The main objective of the investigation was to determine the predisposing factors, diagnoses, and treatments associated with these ailments.
Findings in Acute Pleuropneumonia
- Acute pleuropneumonia was diagnosed in 36 horses, mostly Thoroughbreds in race training. Several had been recently transported over a long distance and some showed evidence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage.
- Physical examinations and hematologic data didn’t yield specific findings, with only hyperfibrinogenemia being a consistent abnormality.
- Treatment included antibiotics, thoracic drainage, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and supportive care. Out of this group, 61% were discharged after an average hospital stay of 23 days. However, 25% were euthanized, and 14% died of the illness.
Bacterial Culture Findings
- Bacterial culturing from the thoracic fluid showed growth in 83% of acute pleuropneumonia cases. However, the presence of anaerobic bacteria didn’t affect the survival rate, which was comparable to the overall survival rate.
Chronic Pleuropneumonia Cases
- Four horses with chronic pleuropneumonia reported lethargy and lack of appetite for more than two weeks. Bacteriological analysis of their thoracic fluid identified Actinobacillus equuli, either alone or with other bacteria. Treatment through broad-spectrum antibiotics led to quick recoveries in these cases.
Findings in Pleuritis Cases
- Three horses developed acute pleuritis due to penetrating thoracic wounds. Aside from the visible wound and a large volume of pleural effusion, other clinical signs were nonspecific. The bacteriological isolates in these horses differed slightly from those of horses with acute pleuropneumonia.
Cite This Article
APA
Collins MB, Hodgson DR, Hutchins DR.
(1994).
Pleural effusion associated with acute and chronic pleuropneumonia and pleuritis secondary to thoracic wounds in horses: 43 cases (1982-1992).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 205(12), 1753-1758.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Health, University of Sydney, Camden, New South Wales, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Acute Disease
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
- Chronic Disease
- Drainage / veterinary
- Female
- Fluid Therapy / veterinary
- Hematocrit / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Male
- Pleural Effusion / diagnosis
- Pleural Effusion / etiology
- Pleural Effusion / therapy
- Pleural Effusion / veterinary
- Pleurisy / complications
- Pleurisy / etiology
- Pleurisy / veterinary
- Pleuropneumonia / complications
- Pleuropneumonia / etiology
- Pleuropneumonia / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Thoracic Injuries / complications
- Thoracic Injuries / veterinary
- Wounds, Penetrating / complications
- Wounds, Penetrating / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Hallowell KL, Hepworth-Warren KL, Dembek K. An updated description of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses and factors associated with death. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2766-2775.
- Migliorisi A, Barger A, Austin S, Foreman JH, Wilkins P. Hyponatremia in horses with septic pneumopathy. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Sep;36(5):1820-1826.
- Minamijima Y, Niwa H, Uchida E, Yamamoto K. Comparison of the proteomes in sera between healthy Thoroughbreds and Thoroughbreds with respiratory disease associated with transport using mass spectrometry-based proteomics. J Equine Sci 2021 Mar;32(1):11-15.
- Arroyo MG, Slovis NM, Moore GE, Taylor SD. Factors Associated with Survival in 97 Horses with Septic Pleuropneumonia. J Vet Intern Med 2017 May;31(3):894-900.
- Ashhurst-Smith C, Norton R, Thoreau W, Peel MM. Actinobacillus equuli septicemia: an unusual zoonotic infection. J Clin Microbiol 1998 Sep;36(9):2789-90.
- Dechan J. Combination of medical and surgical therapy for pleuropneumonia in a horse. Can Vet J 1997 Aug;38(8):499-501.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
