[A horse seropositive for Ehrlichia risticii].

This research article discusses a case where a Dutch warmblooded mare was found to be seropositive for Ehrlichia risticii, a bacterium that causes Disease in horses. The mare presented severe health symptoms leading to collapse and eventually euthanasia, with the diagnosis confirmed via post-mortem examination and immunofluorescence assay.

Overview of Case

• A four-year-old Dutch warmblooded mare located in the province of North-Brabant in the Netherlands started to show disease signs on May 16, 1989. Some of these signs were colic, anorexia, depression, ileus (a disruption of the intestine), severe dehydration and leukopenia (a decrease in white blood cells).
• Due to the severity of health complications, the mare collapsed and was euthanized.

Post-mortem Analysis and Findings

• An autopsy was performed on the mare post euthanasia. The autopsy reported acute colitis (inflammation of the inner lining of the colon) and cytoplasmic inclusion bodies (abnormal structures found inside cells, typically indicative of viral infection) in macrophages (type of white blood cells that consume foreign particles and infectious microbes).
• The findings were suggestive of an infectious disease, triggering further examinations.

Diagnostic Tests and Results

• A test known as an indirect immunofluorescence assay was carried out. This test is commonly used to detect specific antibodies in the serum of a patient, which can help identify the disease-causing pathogen.
• The result showed that the mare’s serum had an Ehrlichia risticii titre of 1:640. Ehrlichia risticii is a bacteria that is known to cause disease in horses, often carried by ticks and flies.
• The high titre confirm the presence of antibodies against Ehrlichia risticii, indicating that the mare was indeed infected with this bacteria leading to her health deterioration and ultimate collapse.