Effect of equine ehrlichial colitis on the hemostatic system in ponies.

The research study examines the effect of a disease called equine ehrlichial colitis (EEC) on the blood clotting function in ponies. The findings show that ponies inflicted with EEC exhibited changes in their blood clotting system, which were more severe in ponies that did not survive the disease.

Background of the Study

• The research was designed to evaluate the impact of equine ehrlichial colitis, an infectious disease that affects horses, on the hemostatic (blood clotting) functions in ponies.
• To conduct the research, the team inoculated (administered) 10 ponies with a bacterium named Ehrlichia risticii, which causes EEC.

Observations & Findings

• The study compared the medical parameters like platelet count, plasma fibrinogen, fibronectin, and various blood factors, before and after the inoculation with E. risticii.
• Significant changes were observed in these parameters from their baseline values during the 18 days following the inoculation. These changes indicated an alteration in the hemostatic system due to EEC.

Outcomes with Severe Clinical Signs

• Among the inoculated ponies, four either died or had to be euthanized due to severe symptoms of EEC.
• These severely affected ponies had notably higher mean plasma fibrinogen concentrations, plasma factor VIII:coagulant values, and activated partial thromboplastin times before death than the surviving ponies.
• Also, the factor V concentrations were significantly lower on the 10th and 20th day post-inoculation in these nonsurviving ponies.

Conclusion

• The significant changes in the hemostatic function tests align with the conclusive observation that the disease EEC does cause alterations in the hemostasis or blood clotting mechanism in ponies.
• Ponies that did not survive the disease were found to have marked lab evidence of coagulopathy, a condition that impairs the blood’s ability to clot.