Sudden death of two horses associated with pulmonary aspergillosis

The sudden death of two horses was attributed to the rapid and acute develo pment of pulmonary aspergillosis. One horse was making excellent postoperat ive progress after a jejunal resection and anastomosis for intestinal adhes ions. The other horse was being treated routinely for equine protozoal myel oencephalitis (EPM). Signs of fever and an increased respiratory rate were detected shortly before death in the first horse, but no premonitory clinic al signs characteristic of pulmonary infection were detected in the horse b eing treated for EPM. Both horses developed rapidly debilitating, acute pul monary mycosis and died unexpectedly.