Equine Respiratory ICVA Diseases

African Horse Sickness: C.S of the Pulmonary (Dunkop) form

Most acute/fatal form (death 4-24hrs)

Rapid fever

Severe respiratory distress

Cough

Frothy nasal discharge (pulmonary edema)

Sweat

Cyanosis of MM

African Horse Sickness: C.S of Cardiac(Dikkop) form

Gradual Development

Prominent edema ( Supraorbital fossa, eyelids, cheek, neck, brisket)

^ Heart rate, fever, jugular vein distention

African Horse Sickness: C.s of the mildest form (horse sickness)

Mild fever

Conjunctival + nasal mucosa congestion, mild inappetence

Typically resolves

African Horse Sickness: Dx

Clinical presentation

RT-PCR= Gold standard sample

African Horse Sickness: Tx

Suppurative: NSAIDs, Analgesic, O2, Bronchodilators

Fluid therapy

Rest

Vector Control

Prevention: Vaccine in endemic areas

*Euthanasia*

Displacement of the soft Palate: c.s

Subtle to dramatic

Respiratory Noise

Exercise Intolerance

Open Mouth Breathing

Choking or Coughing:food in nasopharynx

Displacement of the soft palate:D.X

Exam

Dynamic endoscopy: Gold standard while horse is exercising

Rads

U/S

Displacement of the soft palate: TX(Medical Management)

Topical/systemic anti-inflammatory

Muscle tone enhancement: exercise or clenbuterol

Tack adjustments

Conditioning

Displacement of the soft palate: TX (SX management)

Laryngeal tie-forward: most effective for persistent DDSP

Sterntothyroides myectomy: for refractory cases

Equine herpesvirus 1

Abortion+neurologic dz

Can cause EHM

Equine herpesvirus 4

Primarily resp. Illness, +/- abortion, neuro

Equine Herpesvirus 5

Pulmonary Nodular

Equine herpesvirus 1,4,5: C.S

Respiratory Disease: Fever, Nasal discharge, cough, lymphadenopathy

Abortion: Late gestation (8-11months) fresh fetus(multifocal hepatic necrosis+ intranucler inclusion bodies in # tissues)

Neuro (Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy): Acute Ataxia (Dog sitting), Paresis/ Paralysis starting hind limbs, urine incontinence, loss of tail tone, recumbency, fever, vascular thrombosis +hemorrhage

Neonatal Death: Foals born to mares infected late pregnancy w/EHV-1-> week, fail to thrive, often die

Equine herpesvirus 1,4,5:DX

PCR*

Virus isolation

CSF analysis: EHM causes yellow discoloration + ^ protein

Equine herpesvirus 1,4,5:TX

Supportive care

Antiviral therapy

ABX

Prevention: Vaccine @ 5,7,9 during gestation

Equine Influenza:C.S

Fever

Nasal discharge

Cough:Harsh, dry

Anorexia + Lethargy

Submandibular Lymphadenopathy

Tachypnea

Equine Influenza:DX

Clinical signs + HX

Nasopharyngeal swabs: PCR*, rapid antigen detection, virus isolation

Serological Testing: Serum 2-4wks apart to test titer

Equine Influenza:TX

Rest: 1 week of rest for every 1 day of fever

NSAIDs

Hydration + Nutrition

ABX: 2ndary infection

Bronchodilators

*Prevention: Vaccination, biosecurity

Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EPIH)

DX= endoscope, cytology within a few days of athletic event to see rbc or hemosiderophages

TX+ furosemide(lasix)

Equine Rhinitis Virus: C.S

Nasal discharge (serous to Mucopurulent)

Cough: Persistent

Fever

Pharyngitis + Laryngitis

Submandibular Lymphadenopathy

Exercise Intolerance

Equine Rhinitis Virus:DX

Nasal swab: PCR

Serology

Virus Isolation

Equine Rhinitis Virus:TX

Rest

NSAIDs

Antibiotics

Supportive Care

Prevention: Vaccination

Ethmoid Hematoma: C.S

Unilateral + Intermittent epistaxis

Serosanguinous/bloody nasal discharge unilateral

Respiratory noise

Facial Deformity

Head shaking or Rubbing

Ethmoid Hematoma:DX

Endoscopy* gold standard

Rads

CT

Biopsy to rule out CHANG

Ethmoid Hematoma: TX

Sx removal

Chemical Ablation

Glanders

Foreign dz

Mallein test

Euthanize

Laryngeal Hemiplegia:C.S

Roaring during exercise, Resp. Noise during inspiration

Exercise Intolerance

Gagging/cough

Voice Changes

Laryngeal Hemiplegia:D.X

Exam: Atrophy of cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle

Endoscopy: Gold standard(show asymmetry of arytenoid cartilage)

Laryngeal Hemiplegia:T.X

Mild cases: conservative management

Sx: Prosthetic Laryngoplasty(Tie-back)

Pleuropneumonia(Shipping fever):C.S

Acute: Fever,Tachypnea,shallow breathing,anorexia, painful breathing

Respiratory signs

Pleurodynia: Pain on palpation of thoracic wall, sawhorse stance

Pleural Effusion

Chronic Phase: Weight loss, +/- fibrinous lung adhesions, restrictive lung dz

Pleuropneumonia(Shipping fever): D.X

Thoracic U/S*: detect effusion, fibrin deposition, adhesions

Rads

Thoracocentesis: Btwn 7-8th rib space

Tracheal wash + Culture

Bw: Leukocytosis + Hyperfibrinogenmia

Pleuropneumonia (shipping fever): T.X

ABX: Penicillin/ceftiofur combined w/ gentamicin/enrofloxacin

Reccurrent airway obstruction: C.S

Aka heaves/COPD

Primarily horses 7+years old

Nonproductive chronic cough

Bilateral Mucoid nasal discharge

Heave line

Exercise intolerance

Expiratory wheezes

Reccurrent airway obstruction:D.X

BAL: Gold standard (^ neutrophils)

Endoscopy

Rads: thicken bronchi, pleural effusion

Reccurrent airway obstruction:T.X

Environmental Management: Decrease dust/allergens, diet change

Medical therapy:steroids Systemic for acute inhalation for chronic, bronchodilators

Rhodococcus equi. Pneumonia:C.S

Primarily 1 to 6month foals

Persistent cough

Tachypnea

Nasal discharge

Fever

^Resp effort w/out auscultable crackles/wheezes

Lethargy+ weight loss

Rhodococcus equi. Pneumonia:D.X

U/S: Reveal pulmonary abscesses(peripheral)

Rads: may look like neoplasia (multifocal abscess/nodular lesions

Tracheobronchial fluid collection

Bloodwork

Rhodococcus equi. Pneumonia: TX

ABX: macrolides (clarithromycin, azithromycin, erythromycin)+ rifampin is gold standard

Supportive care

Streptococcus equi ssp. equi ( Strangles ):C.S

Fever,

Mucopurulent nasal discharge,

Enlarged head/neck lymph nodes (submandibular*),

If disseminates= Bastard strangles,

- Purpura hemorrhagica

Streptococcus equi ssp. equi ( Strangles):D.X

Acute Dz: PCR from nasal swab, nasopharyngeal lavage, guttural pouch lavage etc,

Chronic Dz: serology for SeM-specific antibody( if high bastard strangles) guttural pouch endoscopy

Streptococcus equi ssp. equi ( Strangles):T.X

Most infections clear naturally

ABX: contraindicated usually as it prolong clearance and recovery, so only used for severe (penicillin,ceftiofur)

Lavage guttural pouch + instill penicillin

Anti-inflammatories, Supportive care

Prevention: Vaccination