Nocardia nova identification in a transtracheal wash of a horse with recurrent airway obstruction

A horse with recurrent airway disease was presented with dyspnea, mucopurulent bilateral nasal discharge and abnormal lung sounds. Microbiological culture, cytological examination and molecular identification (16S rRNA gene sequence) were performed with the transtracheal wash material and allowed the identification of Nocardia nova, an uncommon agent associated with equine respiratory abnormalities.