Severe Pulmonary Disease Due to Multisystemic Eosinophilic Epitheliotropic Disease in a Horse

Abstract

Abstract. Multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease was diagnosed histologically in a 17-year-old Quarter Horse intact mare that was presented with a chronic history of respiratory distress. At necropsy, the lungs were poorly collapsed and the pulmonary parenchyma contained innumerable, discrete, spherical nodules in a miliary pattern. A few similar nodules were scattered in the liver and the renal lymph nodes. Histologically, these nodules consisted of fibrosing eosinophilic granulomas. Based on histologic findings and the absence of an etiologic agent, a diagnosis of multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease was made.

Idiopathic Eosinophilic Pneumonia with Associated Pulmonary Vasculitis in Horse: A Case Series

“…1,2 Granulomas are most commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract and skin, but also in pancreas, salivary glands and lungs. Histologic findings observed in our case series do not resemble the eosinophilic pulmonary granulomas generally described in horses with MEED.…”

Equine multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease: A case report and review of literature

“…Multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease is a rare equine disease affecting several organ systems (Nimmo Wilkie et al 1985;La Perle et al 1998;Singh et al 2006). In general, MEED is a slowly progressive, chronic disease affecting young horses and most often standardbreds and quarter horses (Lindberg et al 1985;Schumacher et al 2000).…”

“…In 70% of cases symptoms were present for more than 2 months before admission to a clinic. Respiratory signs and nasal discharge have been described in a small number of cases (McCue et al 2003;Carmalt 2004;Singh et al 2006). …”

“…In the gastrointestinal tract, mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and serosa can be affected by diffuse or nodular infiltrations of eosinophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages with possible multifocal fibrosis, muscularis mucosal hyperplasia and multifocal ulcerations (Breider et al 1985;Nimmo Wilkie et al 1985;Gibson et al 1987). Pulmonary lesions are often mild although in one case of MEED the lung parenchyma had been largely replaced by closely packed multifocal eosinophilic granulomas (Singh et al 2006).…”

“…Associated symptoms include chronic weight loss, diarrhoea, exfoliative dermatitis and, less frequently, respiratory symptoms (Breider et al 1985;Nimmo Wilkie et al 1985;Singh et al 2006). It is a disease of unknown aetiology mainly affecting the skin, gastrointestinal tract, liver and pancreas.…”