Laryngeal chondritis as a differential for upper airway diseases in German sheep

• DOI: 10.1186/s13028-020-0510-0
• Publication Date: 2020-03-04T14:03:08Z
• Authors: Wencke Reineking; Teresa Maria Puns...; Matthias Gerhard ...; Jutta Verspohl; Martin Ganter; Wolfgang Baumgärtner; Christina Puff
• Keywords: Male; Veterinary medicine; Sheep Diseases; Case Report; Laryngeal Diseases; 0403 veterinary science; Fatal Outcome; Euthanasia, Animal; Germany; Streptococcal Infections; SF600-1100; Animals; 2. Zero hunger; Sheep; Streptococcus; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; Ovine; Laryngeal chondritis; Dyspnea; Fusobacterium necrophorum; Fusobacterium Infections; Autopsy; Larynx; Cartilage Diseases

Abstract Background Ovine laryngeal chondritis is a rare entity of sheep in the USA, Great Britain, New Zealand and Iceland, but has not been reported in Germany so far. Here, two German cases are reported.

Case presentation Two rams showed severe and progressive signs of dyspnea. Endoscopically, a severe bilateral swelling of the larynx was identified in both rams. Due to poor prognosis and progression of clinical signs one ram was euthanized, while the other ram died overnight. In both cases, a necrosuppurative laryngitis and chondritis of arytenoid cartilages was found at necropsy. Fusobacterium necrophorum and Streptococcus ovis were isolated from the laryngeal lesion in one animal.

Conclusions This is the first report of ovine laryngeal chondritis in continental Europe. This entity should be considered a differential diagnosis for upper airway disease in sheep.