The lungs may fail to function. Eyes
Pneumocystosis in eyes may appear as a single or multiple (up to 50) yellow-white plaques in the eyes choroid layer or just beneath the retina. Vision is usually not affected and it is typically found by chance. Skin
If occurring in the skin, pneumocystosis most often presents as nodular growths in the ear canals of a person with HIV/AIDS. There may be fluid in the ear. Skin involvement may appear outside the ear, usually palms, soles or underarms; as a rash, or small bumps with a dip. It can occur on the face as brownish bumps and plaques. The bumps may be tender and the ulcerate. Infection in the ear may result in a perforated ear drum or destruction of the mastoid bone. The nerves in the head may be affected. Cause
Pneumocystosis is caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii, a fungus which is generally found in the lungs of healthy people, without causing disease until the persons immune system becomes weakened. Risk factors
Pneumocystosis occurs predominantly in people with HIV/AIDS. Other risk factors include chronic lung disease, cancer, autoimmune diseases, organ transplant, or taking corticosteroids. Diagnosis
Diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia is by identifying the organism from a sample of sputum, fluid from affected lungs or a biopsy. A chest X-ray of affected lungs show widespread shadowing in both lungs, with a "bat-wing" pattern and ground glass appearance. Giemsa or silver stains can be used to identify the organism, as well as direct immunofluorescence of infected cells.Diagnosis in the eye involves fundoscopy.
Over a time period of 6 weeks, tenotomy is thought to allow P3 to realign with the ground surface. Critics claim that this technique is unsuccessful and invasive, with advocates making counter-arguments that it is often used in cases which are too far advanced for treatment to help. Tenotomy does risk subluxation of the distal interphalangeal joint (coffin joint), which may be avoided with the use of heel extensions on the shoe. Horses may return to work after the surgery. This treatment is often recommended for severe cases of laminitis, and requires proper trimming and shoeing to be successful. Botulinum toxin infusionAs an alternative to the deep digital flexor tenotomy, Clostridium botulinum type A toxin has been infused into the body of the deep digital flexor muscle. This theoretically allows for the same derotation as a tenotomy, but without the potential for scarring or contracture associated with that procedure. A recent study used this technique in seven laminitic horses. Significant improvement was seen in six of the horses, with moderate improvement in the seventh. Complications
Complications to laminitis include recurrent hoof abscesses, which are sometimes secondary to pedal osteitis, seromas, and fractures to the solar margin of the coffin bone. Informal use of the word "founder"
Informally, particularly in the United States, "founder" has come to mean any chronic changes in the structure of the foot that can be linked to laminitis. In some texts, the term is even used synonymously with laminitis, though such usage is technically incorrect.