title: Fistulous withers in horses: 24 cases (1984-1990).
abstract: Between Jan 1, 1984 and Aug 1, 1990, 27 horses were admitted to the veterinary medical center for evaluation of fistulous withers. Nine (37.5%) of 24 horses tested for antibody to Brucella abortus were seropositive. Horses that tested seropositive were significantly (P = 0.046) more likely to have been pastured with cattle that were seropositive for B abortus, and were significantly (P = 0.010) more likely to have had radiographic evidence of vertebral osteomyelitis than were horses that tested seronegative. Five horses that were seropositive for B abortus were administered strain 19 brucella vaccine sc (n = 1) or iv (n = 4). The horse treated by sc injection of vaccine improved during hospitalization, but was lost to follow-up evaluation. Three (75%) of 4 horses treated by iv injection died, but 1 horse recovered within 4 weeks of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843.
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: McMullan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002003:Brucella abortus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D002061:Bursa, Synovial / Q000382:microbiology; D002062:Bursitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial