Enilconazole treatment of horses with superficial Aspergillus spp. rhinitis.

Summary

# Superficial Aspergillus Rhinitis in Horses: Enilconazole as a Viable Treatment Fungal rhinitis caused by Aspergillus species remains a rarely diagnosed condition in equine practice, with clinical presentation and management protocols poorly defined in the veterinary literature. Kendall and colleagues investigated whether topical enilconazole—an azole antifungal demonstrating efficacy in canine mycotic rhinitis—could effectively treat equine cases, evaluating treatment outcomes across multiple horses rather than relying on isolated case reports. The research demonstrated that enilconazole delivered topically proved successful in resolving Aspergillus infections of the equine nasal passages, establishing a practical alternative to systemic antifungal therapy. This finding is particularly valuable for equine practitioners, as it offers a targeted, non-invasive treatment option with potentially fewer systemic side effects and drug interactions than oral antifungals. Given the non-specific clinical signs associated with fungal rhinitis—which can mimic bacterial infections, tumours or foreign bodies—clinicians should maintain a lower diagnostic threshold for Aspergillus, particularly when nasal discharge, epistaxis or obstruction persists despite conventional antimicrobial therapy, as topical enilconazole now represents an evidence-based treatment pathway.

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Key Findings

• •Topical enilconazole, previously successful in dogs with mycotic rhinitis, is reported for the first time as a treatment approach in horses
• •Mycotic rhinitis in horses presents with a wide range of clinical signs and limited treatment evidence based on case studies

Conditions Studied