Nasal Discharge/Sinusitis Flashcards
What is the problem list?
–Nasal discharge bilateral – how do we get this?
–This is probably the main problem!
–Bilateral mucopurulent nasal discharge
•Not something associated with sinus disease in this case
–Lymphadenopathy
–May be bacterial, viral, fungal
–Could neoplasia
»Uncommon in horses but correct age range…
–Depressed
–Anorexia
–Pyrexia
What does bilateral nasal dischrage usually indicate?
Disease behind nasal septum
What diseases can cause bilateral nasal discharge? (8)(unless bilateral disease of nasal cavity (uncommon))
•Pharyngeal disease
–Pharyngitis
–URT viral and bacteria diseases
–Guttural pouch mycosis, tympany, empyema
»Guttural pouches close to nasal septum, can cause pus down one side or both
•Laryngeal disease
–Arytenoid chondritis
»Infection of these cartilage causes purulent discharge
•Lung disease
–Inflammatory conditions (RAO/Asthma)
–Infectious conditions (pneumonia)
–Neoplasia
–Haemorrhage
Where does unilateral nasal discharge originate?
Rostral to the caudal end of the nasal septum. Pus from one side is there as doesn’t have chance to go down both nostrils
What is different about the nasal septum in cows compared to horses? What is the consequence of this?
Shorter and quite often will tend to get more things occurring bilaterally in cows but in horses
What diseases can cause unilateral nasal discharge? (7)
–Nasal foreign body
–Nasal tumour, polyp, cyst
–Fungal rhinitis
–Nasal trauma
–Unilateral sinusitis
•May occur with mild guttural pouch disease
–GP empyema
–GP tympany
What is purulent nasal discharge indicative of?
Infection/severe inflammation
What might be associated with Purulent nasal discharge?
Foul smell
What can cause a Purulent nasal discharge? (7)
–Often due to anaerobic infection
–Or could be some kind of necrotizing tissue disease:
- Fungal disease
- Tumour
- Oro-sinus fistulae and other dental diseases
- Turbinate necrosis
- Necrotizing pneumonia
- Foreign bodies
What are the differentials for depression? (4)
- Pyrexia
- Systemic disease
- Hypovolaemia
- Pain
What are the differentials for anorexia? (6)
- Pyrexia
- Systemic disease
- Dental disease
- Colic
- Pain (GI, MSK, Thoracic)
- Hyperlipaemia
What are the differentials for this case? (4)
•Bacterial disease, due to mucopurulent discharge. Could be from:
–Guttural pouch (as it is bilateral)
–Pharynx / retropharyngeal nodes
–Lungs
- Primary viral disease with secondary infection
- Neoplasia / Mass
- Foreign body
What examination diagnostic procedures do we have in a horse? (6)
- Body Systems evaluation
- Full physical examination
- Neurological evaluation
- Ophthalmic examination
- Aural Examination
- Rectal Examination
What labatory assessment diagnostic procedures do we have in a horse? (9)
- Haematology
- Fibrinogen
- Serum Amyloid A
- Serum Biochemistry
- PCV, TOTAL PR, LACTATE
- Serum triglycerides
- Broncho-alveolar lavage
- Trans-tracheal wash
- Serology
What diagnostic imaging diagnostic procedures do we have in a horse? (11)
- Endoscopy at rest
- Exercise endoscopy
- Electrocardiography
- Thoracic radiography
- Thoracic ultrasound
- Cardiac ultrasound
- Head Radiography
- Pharyngeal ultrasound
- Abdominal radiography
- Computed tomography
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
When would we do a diagnostic test?
If it changes a treatment plan
What diagnostic procedures should we do? (7)
- Full physical exam
- Haematology
- Serum amyloid
- Serology
- Endoscope at rest
- Head radiographs
Note: Would need sedation
What does an increased fibrinogen on bloods mean?
Have some sort of inflammatory process going on here
–Doesn’t really go super high, if it in 7 or 8 – really need to worry!
What would a Leukocytosis – associated with a neutrophilia as well tell us?
–Starts to tell us that it probably isn’t viral disease!
How do we interpret PCV at bottom end of normal?
–Interpret this based on the animal that is presented to us! Broad range of normal, but heavier draught horses will be at lower end of the spectrum so this PCV could definitely be normal
What can be seen? (this picture is at the opening to the gutteral pouch)
–Trickle of discharge coming down
What can be seen? (This is within the pouch)
–Cannot see much due to very purulent material! Impression there is some hyperinflammatory process of guttural mucosa, so instead of a nice pink it looks more angry and red
What are the 2 likely organisms causing gutteral pouch empyemea?
•Streptococcus equi subsp equi – one we need to be most concerned about!
–‘Strangles’
»Concern about this!
•Streptococcus equi subsp zooepidemicus – can also cause this and there is also loads of other weird and wonderful things as well
Do we need to confirmation test for gutteral pouch emyema?
–Should be assumed S equi unless otherwise proved – SO YES DOES NEED TESTING FOR! As it is a disease that has high virulence and quite significance implication for other horses on the yard! The fact this horse was normal when she got it and then it got ill, was this horse ill when she bought it? Likely it was and then developed the disease on the yard – therefore one of the horses on the yard may have passed the disease to it on the yard – will affect how we manage any other horses that are there!
What is S. Equi usually sensitive to? (2)
- Penicillin
- Oxytetracycline (and therefore Doxycycline)
How do we confirm diagnosis of S. Equi? (3)
•Nasopharyngeal swab
–Bacterial culture
–Cotton bud on long metal swab, goes up nose, sample of bacteria, send for culture – see what grows
–Would have been gold standard 3 years ago, would have been done on 3 occasions but definitive limitations to this and it wont pick up some of the animals that are clinical carriers
–If bacteria isn’t shed into pharynx, then this will NOT pick up the disease
•Guttural pouch wash
–Bacterial culture – sterile fluid in, resample this and collect for culture
–PCR diagnosis – look at some of the DNA to see if evidence of specific sequences that are consistent with strep equi equi
•Will have a far far higher sensitivity than just random samples of bacteria at back of the throat
–Clinical signs and culture of 3x n/ph swabs 60% sensitivity, 90% if PCR
–Guttural pouch flushing’s more sensitive than nasopharynx or nasal discharge
–One of the areas bacteria like to like!
•Serology
–Sensitivity 91.5%. Specificity 90.2% of recent exposure
–Can look at specific markers for strangles bacteria
–But there are limitations for how we interpret the results