title: Bacterial pneumonia associated with corticosteroid therapy in three horses.
abstract: Three horses developed severe pulmonary infections while being treated with systemic corticosteroids for other diseases. Two of them had an immune-mediated skin disease, compatible with a diagnosis of pemphigus foliaceus, and one had severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Case 1 developed diffuse pneumonia from which Streptococcus zooepidemicus and Bacteroides melaninogenicus were isolated, and it responded to antibiotic therapy. Case 2 developed septicaemia, pulmonary thrombosis and pneumonia associated with Escherichia coli, and died during a peracute illness with signs of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Case 3 developed focal pneumonia from which S zooepidemicus was isolated. This horse was destroyed at the owner's request and no treatment was attempted.
authors.affiliation: Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, Mereworth, Maidstone, Kent.
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Mair
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006736:Horses; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents