Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in foals.
Abstract: Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was diagnosed in 3 foals. In 2 foals (No. 1 and 2), diagnosis was by histologic evaluation of pulmonary tissue. On retrospective evaluation, P carinii cysts were found on sediment smears of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in 1 foal (No. 1). A different foal (No. 3) was diagnosed as having pneumocytosis by finding P carinii cysts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and was treated successfully. Definitive diagnosis of pneumocytosis in animals is usually made at necropsy. However, careful cytologic evaluation in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid sediment can provide a diagnosis in some cases, allowing for initiation of appropriate treatment.
Publication Date: 1994-03-15 PubMed ID: 8188515
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Summary
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The research article focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in three foals, concluding that careful cytological evaluation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid sediment can aid in its diagnosis, which typically happens post-mortem.
Diagnosis in Foals
- The researchers studied the diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in three foals. This condition was identified through the histological evaluation of pulmonary tissue in two foals (No. 1 and 2).
- In a retrospective study, the researchers found evidence of P. carinii cysts on sediment smears of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from one of these foals (Foal No. 1).
Successful Treatment
- In the third foal (No. 3), the diagnosis of pneumocytosis (also known as P. carinii pneumonia) was established by discovering P. carinii cysts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. This foal underwent successful treatment for the condition.
Importance of Early Diagnosis
- The research emphasizes that a definitive diagnosis of pneumocytosis in animals is typically made post-mortem, during necropsy.
- However, the team argues that careful cytological evaluation of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid sediment can yield an accurate diagnosis in some cases while the patient is still alive.
- Such a diagnosis, made early in the development of the condition, allows for the prompt initiation of the appropriate treatment protocols.
Cite This Article
APA
Ewing PJ, Cowell RL, Tyler RD, MacAllister CG, Meinkoth JH.
(1994).
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in foals.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 204(6), 929-933.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / microbiology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Lung / microbiology
- Lung / pathology
- Male
- Pneumocystis / isolation & purification
- Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / pathology
- Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Weissenbacher-Lang C, Blasi B, Bauer P, Binanti D, Bittermann K, Ergin L, Högler C, Högler T, Klier M, Matt J, Nedorost N, Silvestri S, Stixenberger D, Ma L, Cissé OH, Kovacs JA, Desvars-Larrive A, Posautz A, Weissenböck H. Detection of Pneumocystis and Morphological Description of Fungal Distribution and Severity of Infection in Thirty-Six Mammal Species. J Fungi (Basel) 2023 Feb 7;9(2).
- Kanemoto H, Morikawa R, Chambers JK, Kasahara K, Hanafusa Y, Uchida K, Ohno K, Nakayama H. Common variable immune deficiency in a Pomeranian with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. J Vet Med Sci 2015 Jun;77(6):715-9.
- Moore I, Horney B, Day K, Lofstedt J, Cribb AE. Treatment of inflammatory airway disease in young standardbreds with interferon alpha. Can Vet J 2004 Jul;45(7):594-601.
- Kureljušić B, Milićević V, Glišić D, Vasić A, Savić B, Jezdimirović N, Erünlü NGO, Blasi B, Weissenbacher-Lang C. Retrospective analysis of possible associations between Pneumocystis spp. and five immunosuppressive viral pathogens in three wild carnivore species. BMC Vet Res 2026 Jan 31;22(1).
- Weissenbacher-Lang C, Grenl A, Blasi B. Meta-Analysis and Systematic Literature Review of the Genus Pneumocystis in Pet, Farm, Zoo, and Wild Mammal Species. J Fungi (Basel) 2023 Nov 4;9(11).
- Hostetter SJ, Clark SK, Gilbertie JM, Wiechert SA, Jones DE, Sponseller BA. Age-related variation in the cellular composition of equine bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Vet Clin Pathol 2017 Jun;46(2):344-353.
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