Diagnostic approaches, aetiological agents and their associations with short-term survival and laminitis in horses with acute diarrhoea admitted to referral institutions.
Abstract: An international description of the diagnostic approaches used in different institutions to diagnose acute equine diarrhoea and the pathogens detected is lacking. Objective: To describe the diagnostic approach, aetiological agents, outcome, and development of laminitis for diarrhoeic horses worldwide. Methods: Multicentre retrospective case series. Methods: Information from horses with acute diarrhoea presenting to participating institutions between 2016 and 2020, including diagnostic approaches, pathogens detected and their associations with outcomes, were compared between institutions or geographic regions. Results: One thousand four hundred and thirty-eight horses from 26 participating institutions from 4 continents were included. Overall, aetiological testing was limited (44% for Salmonella spp., 42% for Neorickettsia risticii [only North America], 40% for Clostridiodes difficile, and 29% for ECoV); however, 13% (81/633) of horses tested positive for Salmonella, 13% (35/262) for N. risticii, 9% (37/422) for ECoV, and 5% (27/578) for C. difficile. C. difficile positive cases had greater odds of non-survival than horses negative for C. difficile (OR: 2.69, 95%CI: 1.23-5.91). In addition, horses that were positive for N. risticii had greater odds of developing laminitis than negative horses (OR: 2.76, 95%CI: 1.12-6.81; p = 0.029). Conclusions: Due to the study's retrospective nature, there are missing data. Conclusions: This study highlighted limited diagnostic investigations in cases of acute equine diarrhoea. Detection rates of pathogens are similar to previous reports. Non-survival and development of laminitis are related to certain detected pathogens. Unassigned: Eine internationale Beschreibung der in verschiedenen Institutionen verwendeten diagnostischen Vorgehensweisen in der Diagnostizierung von akuten Durchfallerkrankungen beim Pferd und der nachgewiesenen Pathogene ist nicht vorhanden. Unassigned: Die Beschreibung der diagnostischen Vorgehensweise, ätiologischen Erreger, klinischer Ergebnisse und Aufkommen von Hufrehe bei Pferden mit Durchfallerkrankung weltweit. Methods: Multizentrisch retrospektive Fallserie. Methods: Informationen von Pferden mit akuter Durchfallerkrankung, welche bei teilnehmenden Institutionen zwischen 2016 und 2020 vorstellig waren, inklusive diagnostischer Vorgehensweise, identifizierter Pathogene und deren Assoziationen zu klinischen Ergebnissen, wurden zwischen Institutionen und geographischen Regionen verglichen. Unassigned: 1438 Pferde von 26 teilnehmenden Institutionen aus vier Kontinenten wurden erfasst. Ätiologische Tests waren insgesamt eingeschränkt (44% für Salmonella spp., 42% für Neorickettsia risticii (nur Nordamerika), 40% für Clostridiodes difficile, und 29% für ECoV); allerdings testeten 13% (81/633) der Pferde positiv für Salmonella, 13% (35/262) für N. risticii, 9% (37/422) für ECoV, und 5% (27/578) für C. difficile. C. difficile‐positive Fälle wiesen eine höhere Wahrscheinlichkeit des Nicht‐Überlebens auf als C. difficile‐negative Pferde (OR: 2.69, 95%CI: 1.23 – 5.91). Außerdem hatten N. risticii‐positive Pferde eine höhere Wahrscheinlichkeit, Hufrehe zu entwickeln als negativ getestete Pferde (OR: 2.76, 95%CI: 1.12 ‐ 6.81; P = 0.029). HAUPTEINSCHRÄNKUNGEN: Durch den retrospektiven Charakter der Studie waren nicht alle Daten für alle Pferde verfügbar. Unassigned: Diese Studie zeigt limitierte diagnostische Untersuchungen bei Fällen von akuter Durchfallerkrankung auf. Erfassungsraten von Pathogenen sind mit vorherigen Berichten vergleichbar. Nicht‐Überleben und Aufkommen von Hufrehe sind mit bestimmten nachgewiesenen Pathogenen assoziiert.
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The research is about the diagnostic procedures used in different institutions for acute equine diarrhoea. It focuses on the techniques used, the pathogens detected, the horses’ survival rates, and the development of a condition known as laminitis in horses worldwide.
Study Methodology
The research was a multicentre retrospective case series and collected data from horses diagnosed with acute diarrhoea between 2016 and 2020.
The participating institutions were located globally, spread across 4 continents with a total of 1438 horses from 26 institutions included in the study.
Within the scope of the study, researchers compared the diagnostic approaches, the pathogens found in the horses, and their effects on the survival rates between different institutions and geographic regions.
Results
The results of the research highlighted that the extent of etiological testing, a method used to determine the disease’s cause, was limited. For instance, 44% were tested for Salmonella spp., 42% for Neorickettsia risticii, 40% for Clostridiodes difficile, and 29% for ECoV.
However, the pathogens’ detection rates were comparatively consistent with previous findings, where 13% of horses tested positive for both Salmonella and N. risticii, 9% for ECoV, and 5% for C. difficile
The study identified horses tested positive for C. difficile to have 2.69 times greater odds of non-survival than horses negative for C. difficile.
Similarly, horses tested positive for N. risticii had 2.76 times greater chances of developing laminitis than negative horses.
Conclusions and Limitations
Despite its valuable insights, the research had its limitations, mainly due to its retrospective nature leading to incomplete data sets.
However, the study indeed shed light on the limited scope of diagnostic investigations performed globally in cases of acute equine diarrhoea.
Moreover, the research highlighted that non-survival rates and the onset of laminitis in horses were linked to the detection of certain pathogens, thereby highlighting a potential focus area for future preventive strategies.
Cite This Article
APA
Gomez DE, Arroyo LG, Schoster A, Renaud DL, Kopper JJ, Dunkel B, Byrne D, Toribio RE.
(2023).
Diagnostic approaches, aetiological agents and their associations with short-term survival and laminitis in horses with acute diarrhoea admitted to referral institutions.
Equine Vet J, 56(5), 959-969.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14024
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