Traumatic brain abscess due to Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus in a Foal

Authors

  • Mariana Isa Poci Palumbo Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0919-5057
  • Rodrigo Maciel Cavalcante Department of Veterinary Clinics, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7507-8332
  • Rogério Martins Amorim Department of Veterinary Clinics, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3750-5857
  • Vânia Maria de Vasconcelos Machado Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9057-5793
  • Noeme Sousa Rocha Department of Veterinary Clinics, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9676-116X
  • Márcio Garcia Ribeiro Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2682-9389
  • Didier Quevedo Cagnini School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science
  • Alexandre Secorun Borges Department of Veterinary Clinics, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6256-8089

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.3725.34811.2

Keywords:

Abscess, computed tomography, Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus

Abstract

Bacterial infection of the equine central nervous system is rare. This report describes the clinical features, computed tomography (CT) findings, and postmortem results of a 3-month-old female Quarter Horse with an intracranial abscess. Clinical signs included seizures, depression, and bilateral blindness. CT imaging demonstrated a large space-occupying lesion in the left cerebral hemisphere, associated with a frontal bone fracture. Necropsy and histopathology confirmed the presence of an abscess secondary to head trauma. Bacterial culture identified Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus as the causative agent. Brain abscess should be considered a differential diagnosis in foals presenting with seizures and other acute neurological abnormalities

References

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Published

2025-09-04

How to Cite

Poci Palumbo, M. I., Maciel Cavalcante, R. ., Martins Amorim, R. ., de Vasconcelos Machado, V. M. ., Sousa Rocha , N. ., Garcia Ribeiro, M. ., … Secorun Borges, A. (2025). Traumatic brain abscess due to Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus in a Foal. Veterinaria Italiana, 61(3). https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.3725.34811.2

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Short communication

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