Abstract
Cutaneous habronemosis in horses is caused by larvae of the spirurid nematodes Habronema microstoma and Habronema muscae. These lesions, also known as “summer sores’’, are often severe and disfiguring. Although Habronema-caused lesions at the coronary grooves have been described, cases of hoof cracks with secondary summer sores have never been reported. The present case describes clinic-pathological and surgical features of a quarter crack case complicated by cutaneous habronemosis at the dermal layers. A 15-year-old, Andalusian stallion was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Teramo because of a mass of the hoof and a severe lameness. The clinical examination revealed an exuberant granulation tissue protruding from a full thickness vertical quarter crack. The mass was surgically removed, and subjected to histopathological, microbiological, and parasitological analyses. A copromicroscopic examination was also performed. The feces scored PCR positive for H. muscae, while the skin for both H. microstoma and H. muscae, thus confirming the primary role of Habronema in causing the hoof mass. This is the first description of a hoof wall crack complicated by summer sores, with simultaneous gastric habronemosis. This case confirms that a prompt diagnosis during fly activity is imperative for an efficacious treatment and a timely prevention of disfiguring summer sores.
Highlights
Habronematidosis is a parasitic infection caused by adult and larval stages of Habronema microstoma, Habronema muscae and Draschia megastoma (Nematoda, Spirurida, Habronematoidea)
The present report describes clinic-pathological and surgical features of a quarter crack case complicated by cutaneous habronemosis at the dermal layers
WithThe a bleeding full thickness vertical quarter crack crackTwo and an exuberant from the hoof mass was brown in color and the had weeks after,mass a second surgery under general anesthesia, was carried out due and an exuberant mass protruding from the hoof crack
Summary
Habronematidosis is a parasitic infection caused by adult and larval stages of Habronema microstoma, Habronema muscae and Draschia megastoma (Nematoda, Spirurida, Habronematoidea). When L3 are deposited on injured skin, wounds, or mucous membranes, they do not complete the life cycle and cause cutaneous and/or muco-cutaneous diseases [2,3,4,5]. This condition, known as “equid summer sores”, is the most severe form, as the larvae cause a local inflammatory reaction characterized by itching, granulomatous, ulcerated and, most often non-healing, lesions [5,6]. The present report describes clinic-pathological and surgical features of a quarter crack case complicated by cutaneous habronemosis at the dermal layers
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