Veterinary Systemic Pathology Online

P-B08 - Glanders - lung - horse

Morphologic Diagnosis:   Lung: Bronchopneumonia, pyogranulomatous, necrotizing, multifocal, moderate, with hemorrhage, and pleural edema, breed unspecified, equine.

Etiologic Diagnosis:   Burkholderial pneumonia

General Discussion:

• Highly contagious and zoonotic disease primarily of horses, donkeys, and mules that is characterized by cutaneous, nasal, and pulmonary lesions
  
• Small, straight to slightly curved, blunt ended, non-motile, unencapsulated, non-spore forming, weak gram negative bacillus
  
• Highly susceptible to light, heat, and disinfectants, may survive in a contaminated environment longer than 6 weeks
  
• Historically important disease; now eradicated except in parts of North Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia and South America
  
• In horses, the disease is usually chronic and debilitating with organisms confined to the lesions and discharges; exudates from nasal and cutaneous ulcers are the most infective
  
• Acute disease primarily affects donkeys, mules and humans, and the organism is distributed in most tissues; may be excreted in feces, urine, saliva, and tears
  
  

Typical Clinical Findings:

ACUTE FORM:

• Mucopurulent nasal discharge
  
• Rapidly spreading ulcers on the nasal mucosa
  
• Nodules on the skin of the lower limbs or abdomen
  

CHRONIC FORM:

• Nasal lesions appear on the lower parts of the turbinates and cartilaginous nasal septum
  
• Nodules eventually ulcerate and become confluent.
  
• A unilateral serous nasal discharge develops which becomes purulent and bloodstained
  
• Cutaneous ulcers discharge a dark honey colored serum and may become fistulous tracts
  
• Swollen and painful joints