Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pseudallescheria boydii keratomycosis in a horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1989
- Authors:
- Friedman, D S et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Surgical Sciences
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A Quarter Horse was diagnosed with a serious eye infection caused by a fungus called Pseudallescheria boydii, which was found in the cornea. The horse received intensive treatment with antifungal medications delivered through a special system for three weeks, but unfortunately, the infection worsened and led to the formation of an abscess in the eye. As a result, the veterinarians had to remove the eye completely. Tests showed that the fungus was resistant to all the antifungal medications that were tried. This type of fungal infection has not been reported in horses or other pets before, although it has been seen in humans.
Abstract
The fungal organism Pseudallescheria boydii was isolated from the cornea of a Quarter Horse with ulcerative keratitis. Despite aggressive hourly medication through a subpalpebral lavage system, with drugs including miconazole and natamycin, the cornea developed a stromal abscess. Orbital exenteration was performed after 3 weeks. The fungal isolate was later determined to be resistant to all 8 antifungal drugs tested. Microscopic examination of the cornea revealed fungal hyphae throughout the corneal stroma and penetrating the Descemet membrane. Pseudallescheria boydii has not been implicated previously as a cause of keratomycosis in horses or in other domestic animals, although cases in human beings have been described.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2777709/