Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pleural Empyema in Six Horses: A Retrospective Case Series.
- Journal:
- Journal of equine veterinary science
- Year:
- 2023
- Authors:
- Battistin, Lorena et al.
- Affiliation:
- Veterinary Clinic Department · Brazil
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This study looked at six horses diagnosed with pleural empyema, which is a serious condition where pus builds up in the chest cavity. The horses showed signs like rapid heart and breathing rates, bluish gums, fever, and difficulty breathing. Tests revealed high white blood cell counts and the presence of various bacteria, including Aspergillus and Salmonella. The most effective treatments identified were ceftiofur and penicillin, but unfortunately, five out of the six horses did not survive. Overall, the findings suggest that pleural empyema is a complicated illness that does not respond well to standard treatments.
Abstract
The clinical findings of pleural empyema in six horses were retrospectively studied using epidemiological, clinical pathology, microbiological, ultrasound, and post-mortem data. The clinical findings included tachycardia (n = 3/6), tachypnea (n = 6/6), cyanotic mucosa (n = 2/6), hyperthermia (n = 4/6), inspiratory or mixed dyspnea (n = 6/6), presence of fluid and/or pleural rubbing (n = 2/6) and coarse crackling on auscultation (n = 4/6). Horses demonstrated leukocytosis (16.22 × 10/µL) with neutrophilia (12.32 × 10/µL) and hyperfibrinogenemia (633.33 mg/dL) and an increase in urea (69.80 mg/kg) and globulins (5.22 g/dL). The pleural fluid exhibited exudate (n = 5/6). The pathogens isolated from transtracheal wash (TTW) and/or pleural effusion included Aspergillus fumigatus, Enterobacter cloacae, alpha and beta hemolytic Streptococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella sp., Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus, and beta hemolytic Staphylococcus. The in vitro tests of microbial sensitivity of the isolates revealed that ceftiofur (5/6) and penicillin (3/6) were the most effective drugs. The fatality rate was 83% (5/6). The main post-mortem finding was the presence of fibrin in the pleural cavity with adhesion between the parietal and visceral pleura. These results show that pleural empyema is a complex disease pathophysiology that is refractory to conventional treatment.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37643695/