Abstract

A standardbred gelding with a history of 10 days pyrexia and lethargy was referred to the Equine Hospital at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, Sweden. The horse had tachypnea with increased respiratory effort and was in thin body condition. Laboratory findings included leukocytosis, hyperfibrinogenemia and hypoxemia. Thoracic radiographs showed signs of pneumonia with a multifocal nodular pattern, which in combination with lung biopsy findings indicated Equine Multinodular Pulmonary Fibrosis (EMPF). EMPF is a recently described disease in adult horses with clinical signs of fever, weight loss and respiratory problems. The pathological findings include loss of functional pulmonary parenchyma due to extensive nodular interstitial fibrosis which has been related to infection with the equine herpesvirus type 5 (EHV-5). In this case, lung biopsy and tracheal wash samples tested positive for both asinine herpesvirus type 5 (AHV-5) and EHV-5 using PCR assays. The horse failed to respond to treatment and was euthanized for humane reasons. Postmortem examination confirmed the diagnosis of EMPF. This case suggests that not only EHV-5 alone should be considered in association with the development of this disease.

Keywords

AHV-5; EHV-5; Equine Multinodular Pulmonary Fibrosis; Horses; Lungs

Published in

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
2012, Volume: 54, article number: 57

SLU Authors

• Grandon, Rodrigo

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Pringle, John

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Clinical Science
Pathobiology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-54-57

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/39045