Acute lymphangitis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome secondary to generalized dermatophylosis in a horse

Abstract

A case of acute lymphangitis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome secondary to generalized dermatophilosis in a seven-year-old Quarter-horse is reported. On clinical examination there was depression, difficulty in walking, tachycardia, fever, dehydration, congestion of mucous, ventral edema and bilateral lymphangitis on the pelvic limbs. The dermatological examination revealed the presence of follicular orientation lesions manifested as tufts of moist hair with a large amount of crust that is similar to small brushes distributed throughout the body of the horse. Under the matted tufts, the skin was moist, exsudative, and extremely sensitive. Dermatophilosis was confirmed based on history, clinical signs, dermatological examination, results of microbiological culture and Gram staining. The treatment consisted in the removal of the crusts with anti-septic solution of povidone-iodine for fifteen days, in addition to administration of procaine benzylpenicillin and phenylbutazone. Twenty days after starting treatment there was complete remission of lesions. Keywords: Equine, dermatophilosis, Dermatophilus congolensis, lymphangitis, skin.