Occurrence of pulmonary aspergillosis after prolonged antibiotic therapy in a horse - a case report

A 7-year-old horse was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Large Animal Hospital of Shiraz Veterinary School, Iran, with fever, dyspnea, tachypnea, cough and nasal discharge. Treatment with antibiotics and antihistamines was ineffective and the animal died 3 weeks post-admission. Post-mortem examination revealed bronchopneumonia with the presence of a large amount of fibrinopurulent exudate in the tracheobronchial airways. Histopathological study of lung sections showed severe necrotizing bronchitis and bronchiolitis, fibrinopurulent pneumonia and numerous branched septate aspergillus hyphae in the exudate and lung tissue. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from exudate and lung tissue. The risk of establishment or exacerbation of a mycotic infection during antibiotic therapy should be taken into consideration.