Papillomatous pastern dermatitis with spirochetes and Pelodera strongyloides in a Tennessee Walking Horse

• Published in: Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation Vol. 12; no. 3; pp. 287 - 291
• Main Authors: Rashmir-Raven, A.M, Black, S.S, Rickard, L.G, Akin, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2000
• Subjects: animal parasitic nematodes; Animals; Biopsy - veterinary; case studies; dermatitis; Dermatitis - diagnosis; Dermatitis - microbiology; Dermatitis - parasitology; Dermatitis - veterinary; feet; Foot Diseases - diagnosis; Foot Diseases - microbiology; Foot Diseases - parasitology; Foot Diseases - veterinary; Forelimb - microbiology; Forelimb - parasitology; Hindlimb - microbiology; Hindlimb - parasitology; Histocytochemistry; histopathology; Horse Diseases - diagnosis; Horse Diseases - microbiology; Horse Diseases - parasitology; Horses; lesions; Male; Microscopy, Electron - veterinary; nematode infections; Papilloma - diagnosis; Papilloma - microbiology; Papilloma - parasitology; Papilloma - veterinary; Rhabditida Infections - diagnosis; Rhabditida Infections - therapy; Rhabditida Infections - veterinary; Rhabditoidea - cytology; Rhabditoidea - isolation & purification; Spirochaetales; Spirochaetales - cytology; Spirochaetales - isolation & purification; Spirochaetales Infections - diagnosis; Spirochaetales Infections - therapy; Spirochaetales Infections - veterinary
• ISSN: 1040-6387; 1943-4936
• DOI: 10.1177/104063870001200320

Papillomatous digital dermatitis is a common disease in cattle. The pastern dermatitis observed in a horse shared many of the gross characteristics of papillomatous digital dermatitis in cattle. Lesions included a mixture of proliferative and erosive changes, with a verrucose appearance in some areas. Microscopic similarities included pseudoepitheliomatous and papillomatous epidermal hyperplasia with hyperkeratosis, spongiosis of the epidermis, and intraepidermal spirochetes. The horse was also concurrently infected with Pelodera strongyloides. Papillomatous digital dermatitis in cattle is associated with poor husbandry practices. The environment of the affected horse was heavily contaminated with urine, manure, and other organic debris. Verrucous pododermatitis of horses may be the same as or similar to bovine papillomatous digital dermatitis, and these conditions have similar etiologies.