Although the fungal kingdom comprises of >70,000 species of molds, yeasts, rusts and mushrooms, only 50 species are pathogenic to mammals. Fungi are eukaryotic organisms with a cell wall composed of chitins, mannans and glucans. The plasma membrane contains ergosterol, which is targeted by several antifungal agents. Systemic fungal infections in horses are sporadic and relatively uncommon, although geographic prevalence is quite variable. Until recently, the prognosis for systemic fungal infections has been guarded to poor. However, pharmacokinetic profiles of several antifungal agents have been reported for horses, and as affordable formulations become increasingly available, successful outcomes are likely to become more common.
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