Bacterial meningitis and brain abscesses secondary to infectious disease processes involving the head in horses: seven cases (1980-2001).
OBJECTIVE
To determine clinical features of horses with bacterial meningitis or brain abscesses secondary to infectious disease processes involving the head.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
7 adult horses.


METHODS
Medical records of Tufts University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center (Lexington, Ky) were reviewed to identify adult (> 12 months old) horses in which a postmortem diagnosis of bacterial meningitis or brain abscess had been made. Horses were included in the study if an intracranial infection was confirmed, the horse had a primary infectious disease process involving the head, and there were no signs of systemic infection.


RESULTS
23 adult horses with bacterial meningitis or a brain abscess were examined during the study period, but only 7 met the criteria for inclusion in the study. Primary sites of infection included the paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, periocular tissues, and submandibular lymph nodes. Three horses died suddenly prior to hospitalization, and 1 horse was hospitalized but died 7 days after the onset of neurologic abnormalities. The remaining 3 horses were euthanatized because of a rapid deterioration in clinical status.


CONCLUSIONS
Although rare, fatal intracranial complications can develop in horses with infectious diseases involving the head.
Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA.
Jennifer J
JJ
Smith
Patricia J
PJ
Provost
Mary Rose
MR
Paradis
D000818:Animals; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D006736:Horses; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies