title: Treatment of mycotic rhinitis with itraconazole in three horses.
abstract: Itraconazole, a third-generation azole, was evaluated for treatment of resistant nasal mycotic infections in horses. Two horses with Aspergillus spp nasal granulomas and 1 horse with Conidiobolus coronatus nasal infection were treated with itraconazole (3 mg/kg PO bid). One of the horses with nasal aspergillosis was also treated by surgical resection of the nasal septum. The treatment time for the horses ranged from 3 to 4.5 months. No adverse effects were noted in any of the horses during the treatment period. Peak and trough serum itraconazole concentrations were < 0.5 micrograms/mL in all 3 horses. Itraconazole (3 mg/kg PO bid) appears to be effective in the treatment of nasal Aspergillus spp infections in horses because the fungal infection was eliminated in both horses. One horse still had excessive nasal sounds during exercise and was retired from training, whereas the other horse returned to normal. The nasal C. coronatus infection appeared resistant to itraconazole treatment in the affected horse because the granulomas were still present after 4.5 months of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rural Practice, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Korenek
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Legendre
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Blackford
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Breider
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000662:veterinary; D004773:Entomophthora / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006736:Horses; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D017964:Itraconazole