Septicemia and peritonitis due to Actinobacillus equuli infection in an adult horse.
Actinobacillus equuli is a rare cause of peritonitis in adult horses. Septicemia and peritonitis due to A. equuli were diagnosed at necropsy in an 8-year-old Saddlebred mare. The origin of the infection was not known; however, small necrotic colonic mucosal lesions presumed to have been caused by phenylbutazone treatment may have allowed bacterial invasion. A good response to antimicrobial treatment has been documented in the small numbers of previously reported acute cases of peritonitis. Because it is potentially treatable, it is important for pathologists and clinicians to identify horses with A. equuli peritonitis.
Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK.
J C
JC
Patterson-Kane
J M
JM
Donahue
L R
LR
Harrison
D000188:Actinobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000189:Actinobacillus Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*