[A horse with chronic eosinophilic enteritis].

The research presents a case of a three-year-old pregnant Dutch Warmblood mare that was diagnosed with eosinophilic enteritis, exhibiting symptoms such as weight loss, abdominal swelling, and intestine wall thickening. Blood tests and a postmortem examination confirmed the condition, which also impacted the horse’s glucose absorption in the small intestine.

Case Presentation

• The subject of the study was a three-year-old pregnant Dutch Warmblood mare referred for weight loss that had been ongoing for a month.
• Asides from weight loss, the mare also had moderate swelling on the underside of the abdomen (ventral oedema), enlarged lymph nodes near the mesentery, and consistent thickening of the walls of the jejunum (part of the small intestine).

Diagnostic Tests and Results

• A haematological evaluation, a common diagnostic tool evaluating the blood count, noted leukocytosis – an increase of white blood cells – with 15.9 Giga per liter, including 18% lymphocytes and 1% eosinophils. These anomalies point towards an infection or an immune response.
• The same evaluation also showed a decrease in total serum protein and albumin concentration, indicating a possible issue with nutrition intake or absorption.

Postmortem Examination and Findings

• An autopsy was conducted, revealing transmural eosinophilic enteritis – a gastrointestinal disorder marked by the excessive eosinophil presence in the intestinal wall, coupled with a macrophage (a type of white blood cell) infiltration.
• This condition had severely affected the intestines as the enteritis was transmural, meaning it had penetrated all layers of the intestinal wall. The accumulation of eosinophils and macrophages suggests an intense inflammatory or immune response.

Impact on Nutrient Absorption

• Another notable finding was an elevated (11% increase) absorption of glucose in the small intestine, signaling a significant metabolic disturbance and potential cascading effects on other systems due to unregulated glucose absorption.

Implications of the Case Study

• This individual case study contributes to a broader understanding of eosinophilic enteritis in equine species, particularly how the disease can manifest and affect metabolic function.
• It also alerts veterinarians to consider eosinophilic enteritis as a potential diagnosis in horses presenting similar symptoms.