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Equine veterinary journal. Supplement2001; (32); 108-112; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2000.tb05346.x

Equine lymphocytic-plasmacytic enterocolitis: a retrospective study of 14 cases.

Abstract: Lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis (LPE) is a morphological diagnosis given to a type of infiltrative intestinal disease classified within the complex of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe the details of breed, age and sex, clinical and clinicopathological findings and outcome of horses diagnosed with LPE. Data were reported from 14 horses that had a histopathological diagnosis of LPE; the median age was 12 years, and there was no breed or sex predilection. Common clinical signs were weight loss (100%), diarrhoea (50%) and lethargy (50%). Hypoproteinaemia and hypoalbuminaemia were present in 6/13 (46%) and 9/12 (75%) horses, respectively. Results of the oral glucose tolerance tests or D-xylose absorption tests were abnormal in 9/12 (75%) horses and rectal mucosal biopsies were abnormal in 3/7 (43%) horses. Corticosteroid treatment was used unsuccessfully in 4 horses. All horses were subjected to euthanasia and LPE was diagnosed at necropsy. Diffuse thickening of the small intestine was apparent grossly in 10/13 (77%) horses examined. LPE is an uncommon equine intestinal disease that is difficult to diagnose antemortem and has a poor prognosis.
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Publication Date: 2001-02-24 PubMed ID: 11202375DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2000.tb05346.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This study focuses on an uncommon intestinal disease in horses called Lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis (LPE). It aims to provide a comprehensive description of this illness by analyzing 14 past cases, covering details such as horse breed, age, and sex, along with symptoms, clinical findings, and the outcome of the disease.

Methodology

  • The research used a retrospective approach, examining 14 previously diagnosed cases of LPE in horses.
  • Data was collected on various aspects including horse breed, age, sex, clinical signs, and clinicopathological findings.
  • Different diagnostic tests were used to confirm LPE, including oral glucose tolerance tests, D-xylose absorption tests, and rectal mucosal biopsies.
  • Additionally, corticosteroid treatment efficacy was evaluated in 4 of the horses.

Findings

  • The median age of the horses diagnosed with LPE was 12 years, with no particular breed or sex showing more susceptibility to the disease.
  • Most common clinical signs were weight loss, experienced by all the horses, followed by diarrhoea and lethargy, presenting in half of the cases.
  • Diagnostic tests showed that hypoproteinaemia was present in approximately 46% of the horses and hypoalbuminaemia in about 75% of the cases.
  • Abnormal results in the oral glucose tolerance tests or D-xylose absorption tests were observed in three-quarters of the horses.
  • Nearly 43% of the horses had abnormal rectal mucosal biopsies.
  • Corticosteroid treatment was found to be unsuccessful in all four cases where it was used.
  • All horses had to be euthanised with LPE diagnosed at necropsy. During the post-mortem examination, about 77% of the horses displayed a gross thickening of the small intestine.

Conclusion

  • The findings revealed that LPE is an uncommon intestinal disease in horses that is difficult to diagnose while the animal is alive.
  • The disease presents severe symptoms like weight loss and diarrhoea, with significant changes observed in intestinal tissue post-mortem.
  • The prognosis for horses diagnosed with LPE is typically poor, with all studied cases ending in euthanasia.
  • It was also found that corticosteroids, a common treatment for inflammatory bowel disease, provide no significant improvement for horses with LPE.

Cite This Article

APA
Kemper DL, Perkins GA, Schumacher J, Edwards JF, Valentine BA, Divers TJ, Cohen ND. (2001). Equine lymphocytic-plasmacytic enterocolitis: a retrospective study of 14 cases. Equine Vet J Suppl(32), 108-112. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2000.tb05346.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal. Supplement
NlmUniqueID: 9614088
Country: United States
Language: English
Issue: 32
Pages: 108-112

Researcher Affiliations

Kemper, D L
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845, USA.
Perkins, G A
    Schumacher, J
      Edwards, J F
        Valentine, B A
          Divers, T J
            Cohen, N D

              MeSH Terms

              • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
              • Animals
              • Breeding
              • Diagnosis, Differential
              • Enterocolitis / diagnosis
              • Enterocolitis / veterinary
              • Female
              • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
              • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
              • Horses
              • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / diagnosis
              • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / veterinary
              • Male
              • Records / veterinary
              • Retrospective Studies

              Citations

              This article has been cited 7 times.
              1. Pekkarinen HM, Simola U, Niinistö KE, Syrjä PES. Clinical features, diagnostic findings, and treatment response in Finnish horses examined for equine inflammatory bowel disease. Acta Vet Scand 2025 Dec 3;68(1):2.
                doi: 10.1186/s13028-025-00831-8pubmed: 41339891google scholar: lookup
              2. Kranenburg LC, Bouwmeester BF, van den Boom R. Findings and Prognosis in 149 Horses with Histological Changes Compatible with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Animals (Basel) 2024 May 30;14(11).
                doi: 10.3390/ani14111638pubmed: 38891685google scholar: lookup
              3. Siwińska N, Żak-Bochenek A, Paszkowska M, Karczewski M, Długopolska D, Haider W. Retrospective Evaluation of the Most Frequently Observed Histological Changes in Duodenal and Rectal Mucosal Biopsies in Horses with Recurrent Colic. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 13;12(24).
                doi: 10.3390/ani12243527pubmed: 36552447google scholar: lookup
              4. Hostetter JM, Uzal FA. Gastrointestinal biopsy in the horse: overview of collection, interpretation, and applications. J Vet Diagn Invest 2022 May;34(3):376-388.
                doi: 10.1177/10406387221085584pubmed: 35354416google scholar: lookup
              5. Walshe N, Mulcahy G, Hodgkinson J, Peachey L. No Worm Is an Island; The Influence of Commensal Gut Microbiota on Cyathostomin Infections. Animals (Basel) 2020 Dec 5;10(12).
                doi: 10.3390/ani10122309pubmed: 33291496google scholar: lookup
              6. Boshuizen B, Ploeg M, Dewulf J, Klooster S, Bruijn M, Picavet MT, Palmers K, Plancke L, Cock H, Theelen M, Delesalle C. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in horses: a retrospective study exploring the value of different diagnostic approaches. BMC Vet Res 2018 Jan 19;14(1):21.
                doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1343-1pubmed: 29351774google scholar: lookup
              7. Kaikkonen R, Niinistö K, Sykes B, Anttila M, Sankari S, Raekallio M. Diagnostic evaluation and short-term outcome as indicators of long-term prognosis in horses with findings suggestive of inflammatory bowel disease treated with corticosteroids and anthelmintics. Acta Vet Scand 2014 Jun 3;56(1):35.
                doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-56-35pubmed: 24894126google scholar: lookup
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