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Equine myenteric ganglionitis: a case of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction.
Abstract: A 4-year-old Standardbred mare was referred to the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine for colic evaluation. Physical examination revealed a small colon impaction which initially responded to conservative medical management. Her signs soon recurred, however, and an exploratory celiotomy was recommended. At surgery the small colon impaction was confirmed. The impaction was evacuated and a surgical biopsy was submitted for histopathologic evaluation. Microscopic examination of H&E and Trichrome sections revealed a massive mononuclear cell infiltration of the myenteric plexus. In addition, there was remarkable fibrosis within the neuropil of the myenteric ganglia and interganglionic fascicles. Postoperatively, the mares's colic signs recurred within two weeks and she was euthanatized. Samples of the proximal and distal small colon as well as the original biopsy site were obtained. Over the intervening two weeks, the inflammatory infiltrate within the myenteric ganglia had subsided, while the previous intraganglionic and fascicular fibrosis had increased substantially. The number of myenteric neurons appeared diminished when compared to age-matched controls. There was evidence of neuronal degeneration among the surviving neurons including central chromatolysis and cytoplasmic vacuolization. Furthermore, many degenerate axons were observed with the electron microscope. This scenario represents an equine example of chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIIP) which has been extensively described in the human literature. In this case, the syndrome arose as a consequence of recurrent inflammatory injury to the mare's enteric nervous system, thereby altering normal gastrointestinal motility. The ensuing neurogenic functional obstruction manifested as frequent bouts of small colon impactions. Equine CIIP should be considered in the differential diagnosis of colic.
Publication Date: 1990-01-01 PubMed ID: 2403425 The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Case Reports
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article discusses a case where a 4-year-old Standardbred mare, treated for colic signs at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, was found to be suffering from chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIIP), a condition not generally associated with horses but prevalent in human literature. The mare suffered from a recurrent inflammation of her enteric nervous system, causing abnormal gastrointestinal functions and frequent bouts of small colon impactions.
Case Presentation and Initial Findings
- A 4-year-old Standardbred mare was brought in for a colic examination, revealing a small colon impaction. The condition was initially managed with medical treatment.
- However, the mare’s signs of colic recurred, necessitating an exploratory celiotomy. The operation confirmed the small colon impaction. The impaction was removed, and a tissue sample was taken for further examination.
ZHistopathological Observations via Microscopic Examination
- Microscopic analysis showed a sizeable mononuclear cell infiltration in the mare’s myenteric plexus, an extensive network of nerves in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Significant fibrosis, or the proliferation of excess fibrous connective tissue, was observed within the neuropil of the myenteric ganglia (clusters of nerve cells) and interganglionic fascicles (nerve fibre bundles).
Postoperative Developments
- The mare’s colic signs reappeared within two weeks post-operation, and she was euthanized. Samples from the proximal and distal small colon and the biopsy site were collected.
- With an intervening two weeks, the inflammatory infiltrate within the myenteric ganglia subsided. However, the preceding intraganglionic and fascicular fibrosis had increased substantially.
- There was a noticeable decrease in the number of myenteric neurons compared to age-matched controls. Among the remaining neurons, degeneration was observed, including central chromatolysis (breakdown of the cell nucleus) and cytoplasmic vacuolization (formation of cavities or vacuoles within the cell), along with many degenerate axons (nerve fibres).
Concluding Observations and Implications
- This case represents an equine instance of chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIIP). In this case, the syndrome resulted from recurrent inflammatory damage to the mare’s enteric nervous system, altering her normal gastrointestinal functioning.
- This subsequent functional obstruction, caused by the nervous system (neurogenic), manifested as frequent bouts of small colon impactions.
- The study suggests that equine CIIP should be a consideration in the differential diagnosis of colic in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Burns GA, Karcher LF, Cummings JF.
(1990).
Equine myenteric ganglionitis: a case of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction.
Cornell Vet, 80(1), 53-63.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Chronic Disease
- Colic / etiology
- Colic / veterinary
- Colon / pathology
- Colon / ultrastructure
- Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction / etiology
- Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction / pathology
- Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction / veterinary
- Female
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Ganglia, Sympathetic / pathology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Inflammation
- Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / veterinary
- Microscopy, Electron
- Myenteric Plexus / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Magi GE, Mariotti F, Berardi S, Piccinini A, Vullo C, Palumbo Piccionello A, Rossi G. Loss of alpha-smooth muscle actin expression associated with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction in a young Miniature Bull Terrier. Acta Vet Scand 2018 Apr 24;60(1):25.
- Mortier J, Elissalt E, Palierne S, Semin MO, Delverdier M, Diquélou A. Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction associated with enteric ganglionitis in a Persian cat. JFMS Open Rep 2016 Jan-Jun;2(1):2055116916655173.
- Chénier S, Macieira SM, Sylvestre D, Jean D. Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction in a horse: a case of myenteric ganglionitis. Can Vet J 2011 Apr;52(4):419-22.
- Pavone S, Veronesi F, Piergili Fioretti D, Mandara MT. Pathological changes caused by Anoplocephala perfoliata in the equine ileocecal junction. Vet Res Commun 2010 Jun;34 Suppl 1:S53-6.
- Pravettoni D, Morandi N, Rondena M, Riccaboni P, Zani DD, Scandella M, Belloli AG. Repeated occurrence of jejuno-jejunal intussusception in a calf. Can Vet J 2009 Mar;50(3):287-90.
- Hudson NP, Pearson GT, Mayhew IG. Tissue culture of the enteric nervous system from equine ileum. Vet Res Commun 2000 Jul;24(5):299-307.
- Pearson GT. Structural organization and neuropeptide distributions in the equine enteric nervous system: an immunohistochemical study using whole-mount preparations from the small intestine. Cell Tissue Res 1994 Jun;276(3):523-34.
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