REVIEW OF 40 CASES OF LUNG ABSCESSES IN FOALS AND ADULT HORSES

A retrospective study of 40 horses with primary lung abscesses without pleuropneumonia showed that lung abscesses occurred predominantly in young horses, usually in foals aged less than or equal to 6 months. Hy perfibrinogenaemia was present in all but 2 horses, and other common c linical and haematological findings were hyperthermia, tachycardia, po lypnoea, and neutrophilic leucocytosis. The most common bacterial spec ies isolated from transtracheal aspirates were Streptococcus zooepidem icus (20/34) and Rhodococcus equi (13/34). Most horses (23/27) dischar ged from the hospital were long term survivors. Of the 19 horses for w hich a follow up was available, 12 raced or performed the task for whi ch they were intended. None of the indicators evaluated in this study could reliably predict the bacterial species involved or the outcome.