Scrotal Pythiosis in a Draft Horse

Scrotal Pythiosis in a Draft Horse

Equine cutaneous pythiosis (ECP) has been directly related to the attraction of aquatic zoospores of Pythium insidiosum (P. insidiosum) to the cutaneous lesions, followed by encystation of zoospores in the new habitat. P. insidiosumrequires an aquatic environment and organic substrate (e.g., moist, decaying vegetation) for maintenance of its normal life cycle. The lesions were restricted to the skin and subcutaneous tissues in horses. However, the organism can invade the external genitalia, neck, trunk, dorsal midline, intestinal tract, lymphatic, arteries, lung, trachea, bone, joints, and tendon sheaths. This case report described scrotal pythiosis in a draft horse.