Aspergillus. Complications, ulceration, lesions of adjoining parts,
food in lungs, hepatization, gangrene. Treatment, by incision, sulphur
dioxide, iodine.
Rivolta and Bassi have found in the guttural pouches of horses and a
mule, an advancing ulceration of the mucosa partially covered with
crusts composed largely of the mycelium, conidia and spores of
Aspergillus or a closely allied fungus. In the mule the ulcer had opened
into the carotid artery causing a profuse epistaxis. In the three horses
there was dysphagia, and the food, descending to the lungs, had caused
pulmonary hepatization and gangrene. The description of the ulcers led
Raillet to infer the existence of glanders and that the presence of the
aspergillus was accidental, rather than a causative factor. In parallel
cases the opening of the guttural pouch and injection with sulphurous
acid solution or dilute solution of iodine would be appropriate
treatment.