Equine Pneumonia and Pleuropneumonia Flashcards
what are the clinical signs of pneumonia?
fever
tachypnea
nasal discharge
coughing
exercise intolerance
what can be seen on a CBC with fibrinogen with equine pneumonia?
neutrophilic leukocytosis +/- left shift
severe/early: neutropenia with toxic left shift
fibrinogen almost always elevated
what is the normal defense system?
mucociliary clearance
phagocytic cells
cellular and humoral immune system
what can aspiration be due to?
anesthesia
esophageal obstruction/choke
reduced laryngeal function
how do viral diseases impact the respiratory epithelium?
enhanced susceptibility to bacterial attachment
diminished mucociliary function
decreased surfactant: type II cells destroyed
how can you treat equine pneumonia?
antimicrobials based on culture and sensitivity
anti-inflammatories
anti-endotoxic
consider oxygen if hypoxia- foals
what antibiotics have the lowest relative drug concentration in lung secretions?
penicillins
what does most severe bronchopneumonia havee?
element of pleural inflammation
what is the pleural fluid like initially with pleuropneumonia?
sterile fluid
what should you do when ultrasounding a horse’s chest?
look at both sides, full chest
measure amount of fluid
look at mediastinum
should you sample the pleuropneumonia before placing the horse on antibiotics?
yes
what should you sample in pleuropneumonia?
trachea
pleural fluid
both: different organisms may grow
what is the most important predisposing factor for pleuropneumonia?
“shipping fever”: transport
what is required for any shot to return to athletic career in horses with pleuropneumonia?
aggressive, early treatment
when is the prognosis poorer with pleuropneumonia?
anaerobes
significant fibrin accumulation
hepatized lung
laminitis
what is pneumonia?
pulmonary defense mechanisms reduced
bacterial invasion and multiplication
inflammatory cells influx
parenchymal disease
possible extension into pleural space
what can be seen on the chemistry profile with pneumonia?
high globulins
check creatinine
what happens with serum amyloid A in pneumonia?
markedly elevated
what are the risk factors for pneumonia?
cold temperature
transportation
exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage
aspiration
how does transportation increase the risk of pneumonia?
poor ventilation
reduced mucociliary clearance
overcrowding
why does it matter that viral diseases denude respiratory epithelium?
enhances susceptibility to bacterial attachment
diminishes mucociliary function
decreases surfactant because type II cells destroyed
what is the common gram negative anaerobe that causes pneumonia?
Prevotella
how should you choose antibiotics?
broad spectrum
good penetration
consider pharmacokinetics of specific organism you are targeting, as well as what is feasible long term
what is the penetration of aminoglycosides in the lungs?
20-30%
what is the penetration of enrofloxacin in the lungs?
70%
also accumulates in alveolar macrophages: great
what drug should you use for anaerobic infection?
metronidazole
also 100% lung penetration
what can pleuropneumonia organize into?
pleural abscessation
where should you sample for pleuropneumonia?
transtracheal aspirate
pleural tap bilaterally
how does transport predispose to pneumonia?
depresses alveolar macrophages
depresses neutrophil respiratory burst
prevents postural drainage with bacterial colonization
high exposure to dust particles
