Equine dermatological ID Flashcards
Name the 3 major bacterial dermatological diseases in horses
o Streptococcal dermatitis
o Staphylococcal dermatitis
o Dermatophilosis
Name the 2 major Fungal dermatological diseases in horses
o Dermatophytosis (ringworm) o Subcutaneous / systemic
Name the 3 major Viral dermatological diseases in horses
o Viral papilloma o Pinnal acanthosis / aural plaques o Coital exanthema o Horse pox o Papular dermatitis o (Sarcoid)
Streptococcal Dermatitis
How common?
- Most common secondary infection of wounds and other skin damage
- Streptococcal part of normal flora, only pathogenic if primary infection compromising the horse immune system
- there are 3 diff types
The different types of streptococcal dermatitis
- Streptococcus equi var. zooepidemicus:
- Most common type of streptococcus
- Opportunistic pathogen – if the skin is broken
- Folliculitis, furunculosis, cellulitis - Streptococcus equi var. equi: causes strangles
- Obligate pathogen
- Abscess (Bastard strangles) - Streptococcus equisimilis:
Clinical signs Streptococcal dermititis
- Secondary infection to skin
- Mildly to moderately painful skin infections and abscess – secondary to the initial break in the skin
- Degree of discomfort tend to be mild
How to diagnose Streptococcal dermatitis
- Based on culture and clinical features
* Sample of bacteria – sent for culture sensitivity
Treatment of Streptococcal dermatitis
- If give antimicrobials give penicilin as v sensitive to it (almost 100% will resolve)
- If abscess then always drain
- Topical antimicrobial washes in mild superficial infections
Presented with mild superficial streptococcal dermatitis infection. What treat and what to ensure?
- Topical antimicrobial washes
- Always make sure water is very warm, as hot as you can tolerate with hand.
- Heat helps penetration of antimicrobial on hair follicles
StAPHYLOcoccus dermatitis
- which are most common?
Bacterial caused dermatitis
- Staphylococcus aureus and intermedius
- aureus of which can be resistant to a few antimicrobials
Clinical signs horse has Staphylococcus
- Very painful to touch (different to Streptococcus) should immediately alert you to Aureus
- Localised exudative dermatitis
- Focal lesions also occur (abscesses or pyogranulomas)
Difference between staphylococcus adn streptococcus?
Strepto - mild discomfort
Staphylo - Very painful
Clinical syndromes associated with staphylococcus
- Pyoderma:
• Secondary to some form of trauma
• Large painful exudative areas - Saddle rash:
• Associated with rubbing of harness areas and saddle cloths - Pastern folliculitis picture on RHS
• Lots of things cause but secondary infection with staphylococcus complicates it - Abscesses
- These secondary infections tend to complicate!
Treatment of staphylococcus
- Problematic! frequently become resistant to antimicrobials
- Clipping hair + antiseptic washes with warm water Always helps
- Drainage of abscesses
- Systemic antimicrobials based on c+s
- Tend to become resistant
Talk about Dermatophilosis
- Bacterial caused dermatitis
- known as rain scald
- Bacteria called Dermatophilus congolensis
- not v pathogenic bacteria - needs breakage of skin
- very contagious, esp wet areas, young horses, groups
What areas are most commonly infected by bacteria Dermatophilosis
• Affects areas that are commonly or persistently soaked – rain makes skin more susceptible to infection/damage: back, head and neck
Presentation of rain scald/ dermatophilosis
- Initially lesions are small, easier to feel than see so might miss (common presentation in summer).
- Feel little scabs. Can sometimes see the hair is elevated
- More severe disease in winter: matted hair, adherent crusts with bits of matted hair a purulent base
- Bitch scab, hair comes and purulent base
- Pain usually mild
Diagnosis of dermatophilosis
(Rain scald)
• Easily recognised clinically – pull scab off and the hair comes with it
• To confirm can direct smears
• Culture – characteristic tramlines