[Sporotrichosis in a horse]

A 9-year old male Arabian horse was referred to the Department of Large Animal Surgery of the University of Utrecht because of multiple nodules on the inner side of the right hind leg. The nodules seemed to follow a cutaneolymphatic pattern. Histopathology of a nodule showed a granulomatous inflammation with the presence of multinucleated giant cells. In PAS- and Grocott-stained sections, spheroid yeast-like organisms with some budding were found throughout the tissue. A preliminary diagnosis of sporotrichosis was made. A fresh nodule was cultured and the presence of Sporothrix c.f. schenckii was confirmed. Antifungal therapy was started, which stopped the extension of the granulomata. Sporotrichosis is a rare disease in Europe, but it is quite common in the southern part of the U.S.A.