What is Dryland Distemper a.k.a. Pigeon fever?
Dryland Distemper is caused by a bacterial infection with Rhodococcus formerly known as Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, which localizes in deep abscesses in the pectoral muscles along the abdomen, and/or in the groin (sheath or udder) region. Infection occurs when the bacteria gains access to the body by insect bites or breaks in the skin. Affected horses develop fevers, poor appetite, and swellings of the chest, lower sheath, udder and sometimes legs. The swellings turn into abscesses that usually rupture. Dryland Distemper is not transmitted via coughing, nose to nose contact, or shared water sources. However, one or all of the horses on a particular property may be affected because they are all exposed to the same environmental conditions (flies, etc.) The presence or extent of the infection seems to depend largely upon an individual horses immune system and how well he can fight off this organism. Discarding soil and bedding that have been contaminated with pus from draining ab
