Congenital duodenal stenotic diaphragm in the foal.

The research is about a case study of a two-month-old female foal that was diagnosed with a rare condition called congenital duodenal stenosis. This condition was identified after the horse was euthanized, owing to her poor health state, and a post-mortem examination was conducted.

Case History and Clinical Symptoms

• The foal in the study was in poor condition and showed abnormal stable behavior. She preferred standing with her head stretched out and relied on the mare’s back or the stable ridge.
• Significant clinical symptom observed was salivation. However, no abnormalities were observed in the oral cavity, the pharynx, and the oesophagus during clinical and radiological examinations
• An antiperistaltic wave along the oesophagus was detected, which was unusual.

Post-mortem Findings

• Due to the worsening condition of the foal, she was euthanized and a post-mortem examination was conducted.
• The examination revealed leukoplakia, a condition where white patches appear on mucous membranes, which can often be associated with a malignancy.
• An erosive and ulcerative inflammation was found in the oesophagus and the oesophageal part of the stomach, indicating severe digestive distress.
• The stomach and the proximal part of the duodenum were found to be severely dilated, further demonstrating severe abnormality.

Identification of Duodenal Stenosis

• A key finding was the presence of a diaphragm in the duodenum with a small perforation, located nine cm distally from the pyloric canal, which indicates duodenal stenosis.
• Duodenal stenosis, which is quite rare, is a condition where a part of the duodenum becomes narrowed due to factors like a diaphragm, leading to digestive difficulties and severe discomfort for the animal.

Overall, this research article highlights the extraordinary case of a foal with congenital duodenal stenosis, revealing correspondingly distinct and crucial clinical and post-mortem findings.