Panniculitis in an Islandic horse foal

Abstract

Panniculitis in an Islandic horse foalPanniculitis is a rare disease in horses. As the name characterizes, it is an inflammation of the fat tissue. The dimension of this inflammation can be various. The aetiology of panniculitis is not entirely clarified until now. In this case report panniculitis is described based on a three weeks old islandic foal. There was a progredient impairment of the general condition at the stable. Based on this the foal has been referred to the horse hospital. Noticeable symptoms in this case were painful, rough swellings in the subcutaneous tissue located in the region of the Ligamentum nuchae, above both eyes, cheeks and of the ventral abdomen. Furthermore there were symmetrical and fluctuating swellings on the croup. Other clinical symptoms were progredient impairment of the general condition, no nursing, stiff gait and recumbency. The pathohistological examinations have been performed from biopsies and collected fluid from lesions as well as by use of autopsy. Findings were necrotic changes of the adipose tissue. There have been necrotic lipocytes as well as inflammatory infiltrates in form of neutrophil granulocytes. In this case the initiated therapy with Meloxicam, Cefquinom, Tocopherolacetat and Sodiumselenite showed no improvement. Finally the foal had to be euthanised because of poor prognosis. In general the prognosis in case of panniculitis has to be scored cautiously. Successful treatments worked out with substitution of vitamin E and selenium in combinition with corticosteroids. A success of this treatment can only be seen in a longer period of time up to several months.