Kb. Poonacha et al., Intestinal lesions in a horse associated with eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus infection, VET PATH, 35(6), 1998, pp. 535-538
Citations number
9
Categorie Soggetti
Veterinary Medicine/Animal Health","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
The primary lesions of eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) virus infecti
on in the horse are limited to the brain and spinal cord. Intestinal lesion
s in addition to the changes in the central nervous system were found in a
6-month-old male Tennessee Walking Horse. One week prior to death, this col
t was vaccinated for EEE virus, western equine encephalomyelitis virus, inf
luenza virus, equine rhinopneumonitis virus, and tetanus. The clinical sign
s consisted of ataxia and rear-end weakness, with a body temperature of 102
.8 F. Gross lesions consisted of yellowish discoloration, swelling, edema,
and hemorrhage of the brain stem and dark discoloration of the gray matter
of the spinal cord. Microscopic lesions in the small intestine were mainly
in the muscular layer and consisted of multifocal areas of myonecrosis and
lymphomonocytic infiltration with a few focal areas of mild fibrous connect
ive tissue proliferation. Occasional focal mild perivascular lymphocytic in
filtration was observed in the submucosa. Lesions in the brain and spinal c
ord consisted of widespread areas of perivascular lymphomonocytic cuffing,
focal areas of necrosis, neutrophilic infiltration, hemorrhage, neuronal de
generation, and gliosis. Hepatic changes consisted of periportal lymphocyti
c infiltration and mild vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes. EEE virus was
isolated from the intestine and detected by DNA in situ hybridization.