Guttural Pouch Tympany

Guttural pouch mycosis is a rare but very serious disease in horses.

Guttural pouch tympany.

Air accumulates in guttural pouch trapped large tympanitic swelling in parotid region. Horses diagnosed with guttural pouch tympany should not be allowed to breed because they would be passing on the genetic condition to the offspring. It is seen most often in young foals and is more common in females than in males. When these bacteria and fungi become trapped in the mucus that lines these pouches they cause infection and inflammation.

It is caused by a fungus that infects the lining of the guttural pouch usually on the roof of the guttural pouch. The exact cause of guttural pouch tympany is unknown. The condition can be unilateral or bilateral. Guttural pouch empyema in horses.

Because of the nature of its workings a horse s guttural pouch may become a haven for bacteria fungi or other infectious agents that are inhaled or ingested by the horse. It is an outpouching of the eustachian tube the tube that connects the ears to the nose and mouth and helps to regulate air pressure. Congenital malfunction of pharyngeal opening ostia of guttural pouch which acts as a one way valve letting air into pouch but not out. A genetic basis of disease has been identified in arabian and german warmblood breeds.

May have distorted cartilaginous border. Recent studies show that it most likely has a genetic component with links to some arabian and hanoverian bloodlines. Guttural pouch tympany is usually a defect with which a foal is born although it may show up later as a foal matures. This malfunction causes the plica to act as a one way valve that leads to air accumulation within the guttural pouch but does not allow the air to escape.

The guttural pouches in horses are well known for being the site of several diseases including tympany empyema mycotic infection and other less frequent pathologic conditions like cystic structures melanoma otitis squamous cell carcinoma or aneurysm rupture fig. Guttural pouch tympany is seen in horses ranging from birth to 1 yr of age and is more common in fillies than in colts. Tympany is usually unilateral but in some cases can affect both pouches. Guttural pouch tympany is a congenital disease in horses which means the foal is born with gpt.

Diagnosis of guttural pouch tympany in horses. In some cases the condition is acquired due to inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. The guttural pouch is a structure found only in equine species.