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The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2011; 52(4); 419-422;

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction in a horse: a case of myenteric ganglionitis.

Abstract: An 11-year-old Quarter horse mare was presented for recurrent episodes of colic. A chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction was diagnosed. Medical treatment and surgical resection of the colon were performed but the condition did not improve and the horse was euthanized. Histopathological examination revealed a myenteric ganglionitis of the small intestine and ascending colon. Une jument Quarter Horse âgée de 11 ans a été présentée pour coliques récurrentes. Une pseudo-obstruction intestinale chronique a été diagnostiquée. Le traitement médical et la résection chirurgicale du côlon n’ont amené aucune amélioration de la condition et l’animal a été euthanasié. L’examen histopathologique des tissus a révélé une ganglionite des plexus myentériques de l’intestin grêle et du colon ascendant. (Traduit par les auteurs)
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Publication Date: 2011-07-07 PubMed ID: 21731098PubMed Central: PMC3058658
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article discusses a case of an 11-year-old Quarter horse mare diagnosed with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction resulting in recurrent colic. Despite medical treatment and surgical intervention, the horse’s condition did not improve leading to euthanasia. Post-death histopathological examination revealed myenteric ganglionitis in the small intestine and ascending colon.

Background and Case Presentation

  • The research centred around an 11-year-old Quarter horse mare that had been displaying recurrent bouts of colic.
  • The horse was found to have chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction. This is a rare, severe gastrointestinal disorder where, despite the lack of any mechanical blockage, the intestines behave as if there is one.

Diagnosis and Treatment

  • The veterinarians carried out a medical treatment plan and decided to conduct surgical resection of the colon in an attempt to alleviate the horse’s symptoms.
  • However, these interventions failed to improve the horse’s distress.

Euthanasia and Post-mortem Examination

  • As a result of the poor prognosis and persistent symptoms, the decision was made to euthanize the horse to halt its suffering.
  • Following euthanasia, a histopathological assessment of the tissues was conducted. This microscopic examination of the tissues, known as a biopsy, helps identify the disease.
  • The histopathological examination revealed that the horse suffered from myenteric ganglionitis of the small intestine and the ascending colon. Myenteric ganglionitis is a rare inflammatory disease affecting the neurons of the Auerbach’s or myenteric plexus, causing gastrointestinal motility disorders.

Conclusion

  • This research report underscores the severity and complexity of diagnosing and treating gastrointestinal disorders like chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and myenteric ganglionitis in horses.
  • The study displays that despite extensive medical and surgical treatment, not all conditions improve, emphasizing the importance of timely and correct diagnosis for effective treatment.

Cite This Article

APA
Chénier S, Macieira SM, Sylvestre D, Jean D. (2011). Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction in a horse: a case of myenteric ganglionitis. Can Vet J, 52(4), 419-422.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 4
Pages: 419-422

Researcher Affiliations

Chénier, Sonia
  • Laboratoire d'épidémiosurveillance animale du Québec, Institut national de santé animale, ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec, 3220, rue Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada. sonia.chenier@umontreal.ca
Macieira, Susana M
    Sylvestre, Doris
      Jean, Daniel

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Chronic Disease
        • Colic / etiology
        • Colic / veterinary
        • Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction / etiology
        • Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction / pathology
        • Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction / surgery
        • Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction / veterinary
        • Fatal Outcome
        • Female
        • Ganglia, Sympathetic / pathology
        • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
        • Horse Diseases / pathology
        • Horse Diseases / surgery
        • Horses
        • Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / etiology
        • Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / pathology
        • Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / surgery
        • Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / veterinary
        • Myenteric Plexus / pathology

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        Citations

        This article has been cited 4 times.
        1. Mortier J, Elissalt E, Palierne S, Semin MO, Delverdier M, Diquélou A. Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction associated with enteric ganglionitis in a Persian cat. JFMS Open Rep 2016 Jan-Jun;2(1):2055116916655173.
          doi: 10.1177/2055116916655173pubmed: 28491428google scholar: lookup
        2. Zacuto AC, Pesavento PA, Hill S, McAlister A, Rosenthal K, Cherbinsky O, Marks SL. Intestinal Leiomyositis: A Cause of Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction in 6 Dogs. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Jan-Feb;30(1):132-40.
          doi: 10.1111/jvim.13652pubmed: 26608226google scholar: lookup
        3. Cantu M, Hostnik ET, Urion R. Imaging Diagnosis-Intestinal Leiomyositis in a 3-Year-Old Labrador Retriever. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2025 Nov;66(6):e70093.
          doi: 10.1111/vru.70093pubmed: 41039702google scholar: lookup
        4. Olivarez MP, Williams J, Udomteerasuwat N, Corner S, Byers C. Case report: Successful treatment of intestinal leiomyositis in a dog using adjunctive intravenous immunoglobulin. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1373882.
          doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1373882pubmed: 39109347google scholar: lookup
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