Guttural pouch mycosis in two foals

Abstract

SummaryGuttural pouch mycosis (GPM) is a rare disorder in foals and should be considered as a differential in a foal presenting with dysphagia. This manuscript describes the medical management of 2 Thoroughbred foals (age 2 and 4 months) that presented with dysphagia secondary to presumptive mucosal penetration and damage by the fungal hyphae to the glossopharyngeal and hypoglossal nerves, and the pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve. Successful treatment of the GPM was achieved with the use of systemic itraconazole and topical miconazole. The mycotic lesions resolved, but both foals continued to have residual cranial nerve deficits, which included an acquired left laryngeal paralysis (Foal A), and residual dysfunction of the glossopharyngeal, hypoglossal and vagus nerves resulting in a weak swallow reflux and transient dysphagia (Foal B).