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()Map CARDIORESPIRATORY SYSTEM (Map)
PLEURAL CAVITY AND MEMBRANES



Pleuritis

  • Inflammation of the pleura
  • Common in animals
  • Inflammatory agents reach the pleura by:
  • Common acute forms:
    • Purulent
    • Fibrinous
      • Common sequele:
        • Organising fibrinous pleuritis in which the visceral pleura becomes enveloped in a restrictive fibrous blanket
        • Pleural adhesions, especially common in ruminants and pigs
  • Granulomatous pleuritis may cause hypertrophic osteopathy

Pyothorax (Thoracic empyema)

  • Purulent effusion in the pleural space
  • Most significant in:
    • Horses
      • Usually secondary to pneumonia or lung abscesses
      • Streptococci are most commonly isolated
      • Usually yellow exudate
      • Often triggered by stress of travelling, competition or similar
    • Dogs
      • Often results from migrating grass awns
      • Actinomyces, Nocardia and Bacteroides spp. are the most frequently recovered organisms
      • Usually blood stained viscous or creamy exudate, often bilateral
      • Yellowish granules may be present within the exudate
      • Thickened pleura, sometimes fibrinous
    • Cats
      • Pathogenesis is unclear, possible due to bite wounds or penetrated oesophagus
      • P. multocida and other Gram-negative organisms are frequently recovered
      • Usually creamy yellow or greyish brown exudate, often bilateral


Infectious causes of pleuritis

. VIRAL BACTERIAL FUNGAL PARASITIC
Dogs . Nocardia . .
. . Actinomyces and Bacteroides spp. . .
. . Tuberculosis . .
Cats FIP P. multocida and other Gram-negative organisms . .
Horses Hendra virus extension from nasopharyngeal flora . .
. . Streptococci . .
Cattle . Pneumonic pasteurellosis . .
. . Tuberculosis . .
. . Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia . .
Sheep . Enzootic pneumonia . .
Pigs Swine influenza Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae . .
. . Pasteurellosis . .
. . Contagious porcine pleuropneumonia . .
. . Glasser's disease . .