A case report of ulcerative lymphangitis (a mini review of causes and current therapies)

Authors: FEREYDON REZAZADEH ZAVOSHTI, AMIR BABAK SIOOFY-KHOJINE, HASSAN ALI MAHPEIKAR

Abstract: Ulcerative lymphangitis, or pigeon fever, is a bacterial infection of the lymphatic vessels of the skin in horses, cattle, sheep, and goats. Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the classical cause of the disease. However, other pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus have been isolated from cases of ulcerative lymphangitis. The aim of this report is to review the causes of pyoderma and skin abscesses in horses with specific attention to Staphylococcus aureus. A 10-year-old Thoroughbred stallion was examined in the suburbs of Tabriz (northwest of Iran) in February 2007. Skin abscesses were present around the hock joints on the hind limbs, on the chest, and on abdominal and neck skin ranging from 0.5 to 6 cm in diameter. A few of these abscesses drained to the surface of the skin and contained bright green purulent discharge. Bacterial culture confirmed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. Based on the clinical examination and laboratory findings the case was diagnosed as ulcerative lymphangitis. Antibiotic therapy included procaine penicillin G (30,000 IU/kg, IM, bid) and streptomycin (3 g, IM, bid) both for 15 days, and Phenylbutazone (10 mg/kg, IM, sid) for 3 days. The therapy was immediately successful.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, ulcerative lymphangitis, horse

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