Nasal Discharge & Sinusitis Flashcards
Where is bilateral nasal discharge usually localised to?
- Usually indicates disease behind the nasal septum
- (Unless bilateral disease of nasal cavity which is pretty unusual)
Where is unilateral nasal discharge usually localised to?
Usually originate rostral to the caudal end of the nasal septum
Causes of bilateral nasal discharge?
- Pharyngeal disease
- Pharyngitis
- URT viral and bacteria diseases
- Guttural pouch mycosis, tympany, empyema
- Laryngeal disease
- Arytenoid chondritis
- Lung disease
- Inflammatory conditions (RAO/Asthma)
- Infectious conditions (pneumonia)
- Neoplasia
- Haemorrhage
Causes of unilateral nasal discharge?
- Nasal foreign body
- Nasal tumour, polyp, cyst
- Fungal rhinitis
- Nasal trauma
- Unilateral sinusitis
- GP empyema
- GP tympany
What does purulent nasal discharge indicate?
- Indicative of infection / severe inflammation
- Containing neutrophils
Purulent nasal discharge may be associated with a foul smell, if so what could this indicate?
- Often due to anaerobic infection
- Or could be due to necrotizing tissue disease, such as:
- Fungal disease
- Tumour
- Oro-sinus fistulae and other dental diseases
- Turbinate necrosis
- Necrotizing pneumonia
- Foreign bodies
What likely organisms may be associated with guttural pouch empyema?
- Streptococcus equi subsp equi (need to be most concerned about this one)
- ‘Strangles’
- Streptococcus equi subsp zooepidemicus
How would you confirm a diagnosis of Guttural pouch empyema that may be due to Streptococcus equi subsp equi?
- Nasopharyngeal swab (for bacterial culture)
- Guttural pouch wash
- Bacterial culture
- PCR diagnosis
- Serology (specific markers of strangles bacteria)
How useful is serology in terms of suspected S.equi infection?
- Good at determining recent (but not necessarily current) S equi infection,
- Determining the need for booster vaccination
- Does not distinguish between vaccine and infection response.
- If the animal has recently been exposed to disease this can be useful
If serology is low for an animal we have assumed is infected with S.equi, why could this be?
- Early infection (<14 days)
- No S.equi equi involvement
- Not exposed to S. equi equi in previous years
- Immunocompromised (unlikely)
- Lab error (unlikely)
In what 4 ways can serology for S.equi be interpreted?
- Negative
- Weak Positive (1 : 200–1 : 400)
- Moderate Positive (1 : 800–1 : 1,600)
- High Positive (1 : 3,200–1 : 6,400)
What could a negative serology result for S.equi mean?
- No previous exposure to S equi or
- Recent vaccine or exposure (<7 days)
What could a weak positive serology result for S.equi mean?
- Could be almost anything
- May represent very recent or residual antibody from exposure or vaccine from a long time ago
- Repeat serology in 7 to 14 days to confirm recent exposure. (if increased in this time then active disease)
What could a moderate positive serology result for S.equi mean?
- 2 to 3 weeks after exposure
- The animal is mounting an immune response
- Infection occurred 6 months to 2 years previously
- Could indicate a waning response if there was exposure a while ago and the antibodies are on their way down
What could a high positive serology result for S.equi mean?
- 4 to 12 weeks after infection
- 1 – 4 weeks post vaccination
- If not then positive for Strep.equi equi
What would you expect to see with bacteriology for S.equi?
- Gram positive cocci
- Growing in chains
- Demonstrating beta-haemolysis
- With mucoid colonies (look mucosy)
- Confirm by carbohydrate assay
- Does NOT ferment to sorbitol and lactose