Pigeon Fever (Dryland Distemper) in Kentucky

An unusual outbreak of the bacterial disease “pigeon fever,” also known as dryland distemper, occurred in Kentucky in early and mid-November 2002, according to Doug Byars, DVM, a specialist in internal medicine and equine critical care. He said 15 cases have been confirmed with bacterial cultures in the same period by Hagyard-Davidson-McGee veterinary associates in Lexington, and about 15 mor

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An unusual outbreak of the bacterial disease “pigeon fever,” also known as dryland distemper, occurred in Kentucky in early and mid-November 2002, according to Doug Byars, DVM, a specialist in internal medicine and equine critical care. He said 15 cases have been confirmed with bacterial cultures in the same period by Hagyard-Davidson-McGee veterinary associates in Lexington, and about 15 more cases have been diagnosed via clinical signs. Byars said there were mini-clusters of two or three horses on some farms.

“Pigeon fever has been reported east of the Mississippi before, but in solitary cases,” said Byars. “We found it in one individual about seven years ago (in Kentucky). I know Florida has reported increasing numbers in recent years. It should be going away when the winter weather sets in.”

Pigeon fever is one of the most commonly diagnosed bacterial problems in California (and several other western states). This disease is caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and is seen worldwide. It usually is associated with very deep abscesses and multiple sores along the chest (hence the name pigeon fever, as the chest swells up and resembles a large pigeon breast). Occasionally there will be sores on the midline and abdomen, or even in aberrant places such as the back. Byars said there are times when the bacteria causes an ulcerative lymphangitis (which causes the hind legs to swell and “bust out” in crusts). Horses also can suffer from internal abscessation.

While horses affected by pigeon fever usually have a good prognosis since the bacteria is very sensitive to antibiotics, noted Byars, the one Kentucky horse diagnosed with internal abscesses died

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Written by:

Kimberly S. Brown is the editor of EquiManagement/EquiManagement.com and the group publisher of the Equine Health Network at Equine Network LLC.

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