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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2016; 31(1); 158-163; doi: 10.1111/jvim.14624

Duodenitis-Proximal Jejunitis in Horses After Experimental Administration of Clostridium difficile Toxins.

Abstract: Duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) is an acute sporadic gastrointestinal disorder of horses of unknown cause. Objective: We hypothesize that Clostridium difficile toxins are involved in the pathogenesis of DPJ in horses. The objective of this study was to determine whether experimentally delivered C. difficile toxins cause clinical signs and histologic lesions similar to those of naturally occurring DPJ. Methods: Six healthy mature mixed breed horses. Methods: Experimental study: animal model of animal disease. Fasted horses were administered crude C. difficile toxins via gastroscopy and monitored for up to 48 hour. Blood was collected for complete blood cell count, biochemistry profile, and plasma fibrinogen assay, and abdominal fluid was collected for cytologic analysis and total solids before and after toxin administration. Physical examination and abdominal ultrasonography were performed throughout the study period. Tissues were collected from the gastrointestinal tract and processed for routine histologic analysis, and lesions were scored. Results: Clinical signs were observed in 2 of 6 horses that are typical although not specific for horses with naturally occurring DPJ. Histopathologic lesions were observed in 6 of 6 horses and were similar to those reported in horses with naturally occurring DPJ. Two horses were severely affected. Conclusions: Duodenitis-proximal jejunitis is likely a syndrome with multiple causes that result in the same clinical and pathologic findings, and our data suggest that the toxins of C. difficile represent one cause of this syndrome. Toxin dose and variation in individual animal susceptibility might affect the clinical signs and lesions after administration of C. difficile toxins.
Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2016-12-01 PubMed ID: 27906466PubMed Central: PMC5259639DOI: 10.1111/jvim.14624Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 study explores whether toxins from the bacteria Clostridium difficile could be a cause of Duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ), a common and often fatal gastrointestinal issue in horses. The researchers tested this hypothesis by administering the toxins to healthy horses and monitoring their health for clinical signs and physical changes consistent with DPJ.

Research Objective and Hypothesis

  • The study set out to investigate the possible role of toxins from Clostridium difficile, a type of bacteria, in the development of duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) in horses.
  • The researchers hypothesized that these toxins could lead to clinical signs and physical changes in the horses’ bodies similar to those seen in natural cases of DPJ.

Methods and Experimentation

  • In this study, six mature horses of mixed breeds were selected. To test the hypothesis, the horses were administered with Clostridium difficile toxins in a controlled manner and observed for up to 48 hours.
  • Over the course of the experiment, the researchers performed a thorough physical examination along with abdominal ultrasonography.
  • Blood and abdominal fluid samples were collected to analyze blood cell count, biochemistry profiles, fibrinogen levels, cytology, and total body solids both before and after the toxins were administered.
  • Moreover, tissues were collected from the horses’ gastrointestinal tracts for routine histologic analysis and the resulting lesions were subsequently scored.

Results

  • The results were enlightening: two of the six horses displayed clinical signs typically found in horses with naturally occurring DPJ, confirming the researchers’ hypothesis.
  • All six horses developed histopathologic lesions similar to those seen in horses with naturally occurring DPJ. Two of these horses were severely affected.

Conclusion

  • The findings support the view that DPJ might result from a variety of causes that end up causing the same clinical and pathologic results in the afflicted horses.
  • The Clostridium difficile toxins were shown to be one such possible cause of DPJ.
  • The researchers suggest that different factors such as the toxin dose and individual susceptibility of a horse could determine the severity of clinical signs and lesions following toxin administration.

Cite This Article

APA
Arroyo LG, Costa MC, Guest BB, Plattner BL, Lillie BN, Weese JS. (2016). Duodenitis-Proximal Jejunitis in Horses After Experimental Administration of Clostridium difficile Toxins. J Vet Intern Med, 31(1), 158-163. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.14624

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 31
Issue: 1
Pages: 158-163

Researcher Affiliations

Arroyo, L G
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
Costa, M C
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
Guest, B B
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
Plattner, B L
  • Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
Lillie, B N
  • Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
Weese, J S
  • Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Clostridioides difficile / pathogenicity
  • Clostridium Infections / microbiology
  • Clostridium Infections / pathology
  • Clostridium Infections / veterinary
  • Duodenitis / microbiology
  • Duodenitis / pathology
  • Duodenitis / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Jejunal Diseases / microbiology
  • Jejunal Diseases / pathology
  • Jejunal Diseases / veterinary
  • Male

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Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
  1. Uzal FA, Navarro MA, Asin J, Henderson EE. Clostridial Diseases of Horses: A Review. Vaccines (Basel) 2022 Feb 17;10(2).
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  4. Rothers KL, Hackett ES, Mason GL, Nelson BB. Atypical Salmonellosis in a Horse: Implications for Hospital Safety. Case Rep Vet Med 2020;2020:7062408.
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