Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cutaneous pythiosis in a nontravelled California horse.
- Journal:
- Veterinary dermatology
- Year:
- 2008
- Authors:
- White, Stephen D et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
An 18-year-old Arabian mare in northern California was found to have a large growth on her left hind leg. Even though she had never traveled outside the state, tests on a sample from the mass revealed a type of organism called Pythium insidiosum, which can cause skin infections. The owner chose not to have surgery to remove the mass, and although the mare was treated with a special vaccine to help her immune system, her health continued to decline. Sadly, this led to the decision to euthanize her.
Abstract
An 18-year-old Arabian mare was examined with a large mass on the left hind pastern and fetlock. The mare was located in the Central Valley of northern California, and had never been out of the state. Routine histopathological processing and examination of biopsy samples from the mass showed several hyphal organisms that were delineated with a silver stain. Using immunohistochemistry the organism was diagnosed as Pythium insidiosum. The owner declined debulking surgery, and despite treatment with an immunotherapeutic vaccine, the horse's condition deteriorated leading to euthanasia.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18699814/