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Fatal intestinal inflammatory lesions in equids in California: 710 cases (1990-2013).
Abstract: To determine incidences and underlying causes of fatal intestinal inflammatory lesions (FIILs) and demographic characteristics of affected equids necropsied at any of the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory facilities between January 1, 1990, and April 16, 2013. Methods: 710 equids with FIILs, including colitis, duodenitis, enteritis, enterocolitis, enteropathy, enterotyphlitis, gastritis, gastroenteritis, ileitis, jejunitis, typhlitis, or typhlocolitis, alone or in combination. Methods: The medical records were reviewed, and data collected included animal age, sex, geographic origin, necropsy submission date, and breed, purpose, or characteristic of use. Descriptive statistics were compiled and reported as numbers and percentages. Results: Colitis (323/710 [45.5%]), enteritis (146/710 [20.6%]), and typhlocolitis (138/710 [19.4%]) were the most common FIILs, and the underlying cause of most FIILs was categorized as either undetermined (465/710 [65.5%]) or bacterial (167/710 [23.5%]). The most common bacteria responsible for FIILs were Clostridium spp and Salmonella spp. Conclusions: Results indicated that the underlying cause for most FIILs could not be identified; however, when it was identified, it was most commonly bacterial and typically Clostridium spp or Salmonella spp, which could be useful information for practitioners when evaluating and managing horses and other equids with intestinal distress. In addition, results underscored the need for improved diagnostic procedures and strategies to determine underlying causes of FIILs in equids. Knowledge of the most common FIILs and their underlying causes may help in diagnosing and mitigating intestinal disease in equids.
Publication Date: 2020-01-31 PubMed ID: 31999521DOI: 10.2460/javma.256.4.455Google Scholar: Lookup 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.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The article discusses a study conducted in California between 1990 to 2013, which examined the causes and frequency of fatal intestinal inflammatory lesions (FIILs) in horses and other equids. The researchers found that the majority of these conditions cannot be attributed to a particular cause, but among those that could be identified bacterial infection was most common.
Study Methodology
- The study focused on 710 equids (horses, donkeys, etc.) that had suffered from a range of FIIL-related conditions like colitis, duodenitis, enteritis, enterocolitis, enteropathy, enterotyphlitis, gastritis, gastroenteritis, ileitis, jejunitis, typhlitis, or typhlocolitis, either individually or in combination.
- The researchers meticulously studied the medical records of these animals, collecting data on their age, sex, geographical origins, date of necropsy submission, and breed, purpose, or characteristic of use in various activities.
- The findings were then compiled into descriptive statistics which are given as numbers and percentages.
Key Findings
- The most prevalent FIILs among the equids studied were colitis (45.5%), enteritis (20.6%), and typhlocolitis (19.4%).
- In most cases, the underlying cause of FIILs could not be determined (65.5%). The identifiable causes were mostly bacterial infections (23.5%).
- The most common bacterial culprits for FIILs were spp and spp, though the full names of the bacteria aren’t mentioned in the abstract.
Conclusions and Implications
- The researchers concluded that despite the majority of underlying FIIL causes remaining unidentified, when it is found, it’s often bacterial infections, specifically spp and spp. This insight can aid veterinarians in evaluating and treating equids suffering from intestinal distress.
- The study also highlighted the need for better diagnostic techniques and strategies to identify the root cause of FIILs in equids, since a significant percentage of cases remain a mystery.
- The awareness about the most common FIILs and their identified causes can assist in the effective diagnosis and treatment of intestinal diseases in equids.
Cite This Article
APA
Macías-Rioseco M, Hill AE, Uzal FA.
(2020).
Fatal intestinal inflammatory lesions in equids in California: 710 cases (1990-2013).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 256(4), 455-462.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.256.4.455 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- California
- Enteritis / veterinary
- Equidae
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Retrospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Haywood LMB, Clark A, Hause B, Sheahan B. A novel kirkovirus may be associated with equine gastrointestinal disease. Equine Vet J 2026 Mar;58(2):414-422.
- Gomez DE, Kopper JJ, Byrne DP, Renaud DL, Schoster A, Dunkel B, Arroyo LG, Mykkanen A, Gilsenan WF, Pihl TH, Lopez-Navarro G, Tennent-Brown BS, Hostnik LD, Mora-Pereira M, Marques F, Gold JR, DeNotta SL, Desjardins I, Stewart AJ, Kuroda T, Schaefer E, Oliver-Espinosa OJ, Agne GF, Uberti B, Veiras P, Delph Miller KM, Gialleti R, John E, Toribio RE. Treatment approaches to horses with acute diarrhea admitted to referral institutions: A multicenter retrospective study. PLoS One 2024;19(11):e0313783.
- Haywood LMB, Sheahan BJ. A Review of Epithelial Ion Transporters and Their Roles in Equine Infectious Colitis. Vet Sci 2024 Oct 7;11(10).
- Zakia LS, Arroyo LG, Gomez DE, Boerlin P, Surette MG, Lillie BN. Postmortem examination of equids >1-year-old with enterotyphlocolitis in Ontario: a retrospective descriptive study. J Vet Diagn Invest 2023 Jul;35(4):349-353.
- Zakia LS, Gomez DE, Caddey BB, Boerlin P, Surette MG, Arroyo LG. Direct and culture-enriched 16S rRNA sequencing of cecal content of healthy horses and horses with typhlocolitis. PLoS One 2023;18(4):e0284193.
- Paruch L, Paruch AM. Molecular Identification of Infectious Enteropathogens in Faeces of Healthy Horses. Microbiol Insights 2022;15:11786361221089005.
- Navarro MA, Arroyo LG, Uzal FA. Special section on diseases of the equine gastrointestinal tract. J Vet Diagn Invest 2022 May;34(3):353.
- Uzal FA, Arroyo LG, Navarro MA, Gomez DE, Asín J, Henderson E. Bacterial and viral enterocolitis in horses: a review. J Vet Diagn Invest 2022 May;34(3):354-375.
- Mendonça FS, Navarro MA, Uzal FA. The comparative pathology of enterocolitis caused by Clostridium perfringens type C, Clostridioides difficile, Paeniclostridium sordellii, Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhimurium, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in horses. J Vet Diagn Invest 2022 May;34(3):412-420.
- Arroyo LG, Rossi L, Santos BP, Gomez DE, Surette MG, Costa MC. Luminal and Mucosal Microbiota of the Cecum and Large Colon of Healthy and Diarrheic Horses. Animals (Basel) 2020 Aug 12;10(8).
- Nyaoke AC, Navarro MA, Fresneda K, Diab SS, Moore J, Lyras D, Awad M, Uzal FA. Paeniclostridium (Clostridium) sordellii-associated enterocolitis in 7 horses. J Vet Diagn Invest 2020 Mar;32(2):239-245.
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