Anaphylactoid purpura in a horse

Abstract

An 8-yr-old gelding with a long-standing, streptococcal respiratory infection developed dyspnea and colic. Laparotomy disclosed numerous, discrete, hemorrhagic, thick areas of necrosis throughout the intestinal tract. At postmortem examination similar lesions were seen in the laryngeal mucosa and in many skeletal muscles. Microscopically these lesions had massive necrosis and hemorrhage with a leucocytoclastic vasculitis in adjacent tissue. The condition resembled anaphylactoid purpura (Henoch-Schonlein disease) in man. Fungal infection was ruled out by special stains which failed to show fungal elements.