Equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis and presumed corticosteroid‐induced side effects in a horse

Equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF) associated with herpesvirus-5 infection (EHV-5), is a severe, fibrosing interstitial lung disease of horses. Most common reported clinical signs are pyrexia, weight loss, depression, respiratory distress tachypnoea and cough. Multiple tissue tropism the EHV-5 has been suggested. Treatment valacyclovir corticosteroids to be successful in few cases, but usually poor prognosis because progressive impairment function. Corticosteroid administration can carry potential side effects, such as hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis suppression, laminitis increased susceptibility infections. This report described case an 11-year-old gelding diagnosed EMPF. The horse was treated and, after transient initial improvement, showed rapid deterioration multiple complications, including severe bacterial dermatitis, liver damage pleural effusion unknown origin. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay biopsy sample positive for EHV-5, confirming virus' tropism. role exacerbating progression increasing infections strongly suspected.