Equine discospondylitis due to Brucella suis infection
Case report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29155/VET.62.225.6Keywords:
Zoonosis, Equine brucellosis, Vertebral infections, Imaging diagnosis, Veterinary neurologyAbstract
This paper describes the first case of Brucella suis discospondylitis diagnosed in an equine in our country. A 9-year-old castrated male equine presented with symptoms of ataxia, stiffness, and marked pain in the cervical region, in addition to swelling with allodynia at the base of the tail. Ultrasonographic and radiographic evaluations showed lesions suggestive of discospondylitis and osteomyelitis in the cervical and coccygeal regions. The unfavorable clinical course and lack of response to initial therapy posed a diagnostic challenge, considering multiple etiologies. Blood serological testing allowed a presumptive diagnosis of Brucella spp., confirmed postmortem as Brucella suis by Dilave (MGAP). The lack of response to treatment and the progressive deterioration of the animal led to its humane euthanasia. The importance of early diagnosis and the use of serial complementary testing to optimize clinical management and minimize the risk of zoonotic transmission are highlighted.
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