Subacute interstitial pneumonia with diffuse alveolar damage, marked macrophage infiltration, and intracellular Pneumocystis carinii cysts is described in a 3-month-old Swiss warmblood foal. Clinically, the disease was characterized by sudden onset of respiratory distress with fatal outcome. Based on serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA, and IgM values, no humoral immunosuppression was detected. Spleen, thymus, and bronchial lymph nodes did not reveal lymphoid depletion, as assessed by immunohistochemical staining of CD-3-positive cells. Immunopathogenesis of pulmonary infections with intracellular agents in foals is discussed.
AbbasKAMurphyKMSherA:
Functional diversity of helper T lymphocytes.
Nature383: 787–793, 1996
2.
AinsworthDMWeldonADBeckKARowlandPH:
Recognition ofPneumocystis carinii in foals with respiratory distress.Equine Vet J25: 103–108, 1993
3.
BalaanMR:
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.West Va Med J86: 561–565, 1990
4.
BuergeltCDMinesSACantorGStirkAWilsonJH:
A retrospective study of proliferative interstitial lung disease of horses in Florida.
Vet Pathol23: 750–756, 1986
EdmanJCKovacsJAMasurHSantiDVElwoodHJSoginML:
Ribosomal RNA sequence showsPneumocystis carinii to be a member of the fungi.Nature (Lond)334: 519–522, 1988
7.
EwingPJCowellRLTylerRDMacAllisterCGMeinkothJH:
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in foals.J Am Vet Med Assoc204: 929–933, 1994
8.
HietalaSKArdansAA:
Interaction ofRhodococcus equi with phagocytic cells from R. equi-exposed and non-exposed foals.
Vet Microbiol14: 307–320, 1987
9.
KanalySTMinesSAPalmerGH:
Cytokine modulation alters pulmonary clearance ofR. equi and development of granulomatous pneumonia.Infect Immun63: 3037–3041, 1995
10.
LakritzJWilsonWDBerryCRSchrenzelMDCarlsonGPMadiganJE:
Bronchointerstitial pneumonia and respiratory distress in young horses: clinical, clinicopathologic, radiographic, and pathological findings in 23 cases (1894–1989).
J Vet Intern Med7: 277–288, 1993
11.
LunaMAClearyKR:
Spectrum of pathologic manifestations ofPneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with neoplastic diseases.Semin Diagn Pathol6: 262–272, 1989
12.
MasurHOgnibeneFPYarchoanRShelhamerJHBairdBFTravisWSuffrediniAFDeytonLKovacsJAFalloonJDaveyRPolisMMetcalfJBaselerMWesleyRGillVJFauciASLaneHC:
CD4 counts as predictors of opportunistic pneumonias in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
Ann Intern Med111: 223–231, 1989
13.
PiferLLHughesWTStagnoSWoodsD:
Pneumocystis carinii infection: evidence for high prevalence in normal and immunosuppressed children.Pediatrics61: 35, 1978
14.
PrescottJF:
Immunodeficiency and serious pneumonia in foals: the plot thickens.
Equine Vet J25: 88–89, 1993
15.
PrescottJFOgilvieTHMarkhamRJF:
Lymphocyte immunostimulation in the diagnosis ofCorynebacterium equi pneumonia in foals.Can Vet J32: 421–425, 1980
16.
PrescottJFWilcockBPCarmanSHoffmanAM:
Sporadic, severe bronchointerstitial pneumonia of foals.
Can Vet J32: 421–425, 1991
17.
ShiveleyJNDellersRWBuergeltCDHsuFSKabelacLPMoeKKTennantBVaughanJT:
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in two foals.J Am Vet Med Assoc162: 648–652, 1973
18.
WhitwellK:
Pneumocystis carinii infection in foals in the UK.Vet Rec131: 19, 1982
