Zygomycosis and skin pythiosis in horses: diagnosis and treatment

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Celso Antônio Rodrigues
Maria Cecília Rui Luvizotto

Abstract

Also known as phycomycoses, pythiosis and zygomycosis are mycotic diseases with very similar morphological and histopathological features, and occur in skin, subcutaneous tissue, GI tract and lungs, mainly in horses. The etiological agents are soil and vegetation saprophytes present in swamps. Horses acquire the infection by remaining in these areas, in contact with the soil, favoring the occurrence of infected granulomatous lesions mainly in the distal portion of the limbs, ventral region of thea bdomen, chest and neck, with severe pruritus, ulceration, and viscous and abundant serosanguineous secretion. Several methods are used to treat these mycoses, surgical excision associated with amphotericin B being the most important. However, new adjuvant therapies have been successfully tested as this drug has many side effects and is very expensive.

Article Details

How to Cite
RODRIGUES, C. A.; LUVIZOTTO, M. C. R. Zygomycosis and skin pythiosis in horses: diagnosis and treatment. Revista de Educação Continuada em Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, v. 3, n. 3, p. 03-11, 1 Dec. 2000.
Section
LARGE AND MEDIUM ANIMALS