Guttural Pouch Mycosis

Guttural pouch mycosis (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)

Haemorrhage on GP mycosis (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)

• Fibrinous necrotising diphtheritic inflammatory process
• Most often caused by Aspergillus spp.
• Tends to invade neighbouring structures - nerves (causing e.g. laryngeal hemiplegia), blood vessels (rupture of internal carotid), bones (osteitis, fusion of stylohyoid and petrous temporal bones)
  • Often associated with haemorrhage (see epistaxis)

2. Guttural Pouch Mycosis:

- Fungal infections (Aspergillosis).

- Typically affect caudodorsal medial compartment.

- Signs: painful swelling in parotid region, abnormal carriage of head and neck, nasal discharge, and the horse may be head shy.

- Erosion of the roof of the guttural pouch produces a variety of signs by damage to important structures directly related to the pouch:

a) Epistaxis: nasal bleeding. Erosion of internal carotid artery severe, maybe even cause fatal haemorrhage.

b) Dysphagia: difficulty in swallowing. Paresis of the pharynx and soft palate is caused by lesions involving the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves.

c) Laryngeal Hemiplegia: roaring - following vagus involvement.

d) Horner's Syndrome: nasal congestion, drooping of upper eyelid, miosis, sweating and hyperaemia on same side of face. From involvement of sympathetic nerve (cranial cervical ganglion).

e) Facial Paresis: rare.

f) Tongue Paralysis: rare.

g) Vestibular Signs and Arthritis: alanto-occipital joint - very rarely.

Test yourself with the Guttural Pouches Pathology Flashcards

Guttural Pouches Pathology Flashcards