Predispositions include horses that are prone to stocking up or have an injury on the limb. Environmental predisposition is late summer and fall and horses in unsanitary crowed conditions. reoccurrence is known to occur in the Western states of the United States. The signs and symptoms of ulcerative lymphangitis are pain, lameness, fever & other systemic symptoms, heat, swelling/edema and fluid may ooze from the skin. In more severe cases, nodular lesions and of the hind limb occurs, forming drainage tracts along the lymph vessels that exude a thick, greenish-white, blood tinged odourless exudate. Lesions are often restricted to the hock or fetlock region but may involve the entire hind limb. One or both hindlimbs can be affected and possibly a forelimb. of the limb can occur. Cellulitis often occurs in conjunction with ulcerative lymphangitis which can result in lameness. Internal abscesses may also form in organs which may rupture and cause more serious problems. is a type of ulcerative lymphangitis that is restricted to the chest or under the belly between the forelimbs. The swelling & ulceration of this area gives the horse a ‘pigeon breasted’ appearance. Internal or more commonly, external abscesses develop in the pectoral region. Pigeon Fever has been restricted to North America, most notably dry states such as California & Arizona. Diagnosis for both ulcerative lymphangitis & pigeon fever is signs and symptoms as well as a bacterial culture and skin biopsy. Ultrasound can be used to identify location of internal abscesses. The conventional treatment of ulcerative lymphangitis is the administration of systemic antibiotics and NSAID’s combined with an iodine flush of the open lesions. Possible surgical drainage of abscesses/lesions. Cold or hot hydrotherapy may also be used as part of the treatment of bacterial lymphangitis. Research on exercise vs. rest and support bandaging is conflicting. Affected horses should be isolated or quarantined. Prognosis is good for mild/moderate cases that are treated promptly. For more severe cases or untreated horses, prognosis is guarded to poor. Due to the challenges of treating lymphangitis, even with the infection cleared, fibrosis of the vessels occurs causing permanent obstruction and chronic swelling.
Prevention includes isolation, fly control, wound management and good hygiene.
Epizootic Lymphangitis
This is an infectious, contagious and granulomatous form of lymphangitis caused by the Histoplasma farciminosum. Transmission is environmental with flies being a vector for transmission. The fungus enters through a wound on the skin and enter/travel through the lymphatic system & skin causing granulomatous reaction.
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