Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Idiopathic systemic granulomatous disease with encephalitis in a horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary medicine. A, Physiology, pathology, clinical medicine
- Year:
- 2003
- Authors:
- Peters, M et al.
- Affiliation:
- Addresses of authors: Institut fü · Germany
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 14-year-old standardbred mare was showing signs of a possible lung infection but quickly developed serious problems with her nervous system. After she was euthanized, a thorough examination revealed widespread inflammation in her body, particularly affecting her lungs, lymph nodes, ribs, liver, and brain. The brain showed severe inflammation and damage, but tests did not find any infectious agents that could explain these issues. This case is considered a rare form of a condition called idiopathic systemic granulomatous disease (ISGD), which is thought to be related to the immune system, and it was unusual because it involved the brain without affecting the skin. Unfortunately, the treatment options for this condition were not effective.
Abstract
A 14-year-old standardbred mare with clinically suspected acute bronchitis was killed because of rapidly progressing central nervous disturbances. Necropsy revealed systemic granulomatous inflammation and vasculitis involving the lungs, thoracic lymph nodes, ribs, and liver. In the cerebrum there was a severe subacute bilateral encephalitis and malacia predominately affecting the white matter, and vasculitis with perivascular infiltration of lymphocytes, macrophages, and giant cells. A causative infectious agent could not be detected by Ziehl-Neelsen, Grocott, or Giemsa stains, by periodic acid-Schiff reaction of tissue sections, nor by bacterial and fungal cultures. Therefore, idiopathic systemic granulomatous disease (ISGD) was diagnosed and an immune-mediated pathogenesis was suspected. Inflammatory involvement of the brain has hitherto not been reported in cases of equine ISGD. This case seems to be an uncommon variant of ISGD with encephalitis and lack of dermal involvement.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12667202/