PERIAEROSACCULITIS CHRONICA IN A WARM-BLO ODED MARE CAUSED BY GUTTURAL POUCH INFECTION WITH PASTEURELLA-MULTOCIDA

A 10 year-old standard-bred mare, initially showing weight loss and mu copurulent nasal discharge developed chewing and swalloing difficultie s and neurological symptoms with leftside loss of tonus of the under-a nd upper lip and tongue during the course of the disease. Clinical inp atient examination revealed purulent inflammation of the left guttural pouch caused by Pasteurella multocida. In addition a constant neutrop hilia and hyperproteinemia for the beta-2- and/or gamma-fractions was found over almost 3 months. Despite intensive antibiotic therapy there was no improvement of the patient so that the horse was put down. Cli nical diagnosis was: leftside paralysis of Nn. laryngus recurrens, hyp oglossus, glossopharyngeus and facialis as well as a latent-florid ina ccessible purulent focus in the left side of the head outside the gutt ural pouch. Sectioning of the carcass revealed a chronic-purulent, par tly apostematous periaerosacculitis involving nerves and vascular stru ctures with multiple infectious thrombi. Microbiological examination o f thrombi led to isolation of Pasteurella multocida in pure culture.