Flaviviruses, including K unjin virus, are arboviruses that cause encephalomyelitis in humans and horses. This case report describes an A rabian gelding exhibiting neurological signs of flavivirus encephalomyelitis, the diagnostic investigation and confirmation of an unreported case of K unjin virus equine encephalomyelitis in A ustralia.
A mare was referred for further evaluation of a mass found in the left caudal abdomen during a routine postpartum reproductive palpation. The mare was clinically normal with no history of health problems. Ultrasonographic examination of the mass confirmed its presence, but the origin of the mass could not be accurately determined. Routine haematology and serum biochemistry results were within normal limits. The mare was initially treated conservatively with antibiotics, but the mass continued to increase in size, so it was surgically excised. The mass involved the left ovary. The mare showed transient abdominal pain after surgery, but developed no other complications and was in foal 7 months later. On histology, the mass was diagnosed as a dysgerminoma, a rare ovarian tumour of germ cell origin.
Abstract Abstract CASE HISTORY: An aged pony gelding presented with sudden onset of neck pain, depression and ataxia and weakness of the hindlegs, together with longer-term weight loss. Diagnostic procedures failed to isolate the cause of these signs and, despite symptomatic treatment, the animal's condition deteriorated until it required euthanasia. NECROPSY FINDINGS: Post mortem examination revealed the presence of multiple splenic and hepatic haemangiosarco-mata, with metastases to the lung and dorsal cervical muscles overlying C1 and C2 vertebrae. No lesions were present in the spinal cord, spinal column or brain. CONCLUSIONS: The weight loss and neck pain were explicable in terms of the sites and extent of the tumours, although it was unclear how the severe ataxia could have been produced by such lesions. KEY WORDS: Horseataxiahaemangiosarcomacervical muscle Acknowledgement We thank Pat Davey for the preparation of histological sections.