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[Equine exudative canker: an (auto-)immune disease?]
A M C Jongbloets1, M M Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan, P J H M Meeus
1Destijds Hoofdafdeling Gezondheidszorg Paard, nu: Paardenpraktijk West-Brabant, Rijkweg Zuid 105, 4715 TA, Rucphen. angeliquejongbloets@hetnet.nl
Tijdschrift Voor Diergeneeskunde
|March 10, 2005
Summary
Equine canker, a hoof disease, may stem from immune reactions. Treatment with corticosteroids and surgery showed complete healing in a pony, suggesting a new therapeutic approach for this condition.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Dermatology
- Equine Podiatry
- Immunology
Background:
- Equine canker is a chronic, hyperplastic, exudative pododermatitis affecting the hooves, with an unknown multifactorial cause and high recurrence rates (45%) after traditional treatments.
- Current treatments involve surgical debridement and topical applications, but often fail to prevent disease recurrence.
Observation:
- A case report details a 3-year-old New Forest pony-cross mare with extensive canker affecting all horny structures (frogs, coronets, spurs, chestnuts) in all four feet.
- Bacteriological, fungal, and papilloma virus tests were negative, prompting a hypothesis of an (auto-)immune-mediated cause for the hyperplastic inflammation.
Findings:
- The pony was treated with surgical debridement of the frogs on a diagonal pair of feet and received oral prednisolone (1 mg/kg once daily).
- Complete healing of the frogs, coronets, spurs, and chestnuts in all four feet was observed within 8 weeks of treatment.
Implications:
- This case suggests that equine canker, particularly when affecting all four feet and other horny structures, may be triggered by an (auto-)immune response.
- Corticosteroids, specifically prednisolone at 1 mg/kg orally, demonstrated effectiveness in treating this form of equine canker, offering a potential alternative to conventional therapies.