Pythiosis

[Bondama]

Does anyone have any experience with Pythiosis? Ever had a horse that contracted it? Would love details, if so.

I ask because I strongly suspect my stallion has a spot of this on one foot. The vet has been treating it as a summer sore, but it is not responding. I did some online research and came across an article about pythiosis that had photographs and there was one photo of a horse with a spot that is identical to the one my stallion has. Reading this article and a good many others, I am convinced this is in fact what my stallion has. I printed the articles and photos and sent them to my vet to review and comment, but I haven't heard from him yet. While I am waiting, I am wondering if anyone out there has had experience with it.....

B

[lindsay_aggie]

There is a lab just outside of Austin, TX that has developed a pythium vaccine. They do the testing as well and are very easy to work with and reliable. I work at an equine clinic and we see a lot of pythiosis in our area (San Antonio, TX). What we see the most are horses presenting with breathing problems due to pythium but I have seen two horses with the non-healing wounds. The test is not that expensive (around $80 retail) and if your horse tests positive you can order the vaccine. That is a little pricey at around $200 retail for a 3 dose vial but we have had great results using it. You dose every 7 days for 3 doses and then every 30 days for another 3 doses. A lot of our clients see results at about the second injection. The test just uses serum and takes less than a week to get back.

Here is a link to Pan American Vet Labs http://pythium.pavlab.com/

Hope this helps.

Lindsay

[Bondama]

Thanks very much. Interesting that I got referred to that same lab just this morning by someone who had an experience similar to mine in that his horse was mis-diagnosed with summer sore (and by the same vet too!). Like me, after not getting any follow up attention, or return calls, he sought out a 2nd opinion. He got another vet who was able to cure his horse, and is actually a track vet at Tampa Downs (Dr. Gold) and I spoke to him on the phone today. Dr. Gold is going to call me back tonight after he reviews a new study report that he said he just got about this affliction from one of the veterinary journals or something. The guy's horse has some scarring, but experiences no lameness or discomfort. That's something I could live with.....well, that my horse could live with anyway! I have learned that without treatment, it will ultimately affect the bone, and when that happens, there is no treating it, the horse must be euthanized. Sure don't wanna see that happen!!!

THanks again for the link.

[Bondama]

Finally got a return call from my regular vet. He was totally open to the fact that he may have missed the pythiosis and was quite decent about it. He is coming out today to debride the sore and take tissue samples and send them off to Gainesville. So we'll see. Unfortunately, Dr. Gold is too busy at the track just now so wasn't able to come himself. But he sure was nice! Updates when they're available.

[Bondama]

Well, Dr. Herrero called and said the lab results say it is NOT pythiosis, so that is the best news. Apparently, it is just a tenacious summer sore....so we continue to treat with his topical 6-ingredient concotion of furamycin, DMSO and other stuff and worm with ivermectin every other week.

[LKR]

What is the reason for worming with ivermectin every other week? Just curious.

[Bondama]

Since the summer sores are parasitic in nature (google habronemiasis) ivermectin given internally is prescribed in addition to topical medicines.