FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Findings and Prognosis in 149 Horses with Histological Chang...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 14(11); doi: 10.3390/ani14111638

Findings and Prognosis in 149 Horses with Histological Changes Compatible with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Abstract: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease characterized by different cell infiltrates in the intestine. The aims of this study were to report the clinical and clinicopathological findings in horses with histological changes compatible with IBD in the duodenum. Further, the clinical progression of IBD and survival were investigated. Patient records were reviewed for horses in which histological evidence of IBD was found in duodenal biopsies collected during endoscopy. The histological changes were classified as mild, moderate or severe and the predominant infiltrating cell type was recorded. Clinical improvement was assessed by the owner via a questionnaire at 6 weeks after biopsy, along with survival after one year. In total, 149 horses were included, and the most common clinical signs were weight loss, reduced performance and pain during abdominal palpation. Most horses showed partial malabsorption during an oral glucose absorption test, and the horses with severe IBD had lower serum protein concentrations. Lymphoplasmacytic enteritis was the most common type of IBD (78.5% of cases), while in six horses neutrophilic infiltration of the duodenum was present. Overall, 71% of the cases had improved clinically after six weeks, mostly following treatment with corticosteroids. The results of a second biopsy were a poor predictor of improvement, and the horses that improved after 6 weeks were more likely to be alive after one year.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2024-05-30 PubMed ID: 38891685PubMed Central: PMC11171156DOI: 10.3390/ani14111638Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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 research article evaluates clinical and pathological characteristics in horses with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), explored the course of the disease, and examined survival rates.

Objective and Methodology

  • The study aimed to investigate the symptomatology, pathologic findings, clinical progression, and survival rates in horses diagnosed with IBD.
  • Medical records of horses with histologically-proven IBD were reviewed. The detection of IBD involved biopsies of the duodenum during endoscopy procedures.
  • The severity of histological changes was categorized into mild, moderate, or severe. The study also recorded the predominant cell type infiltrating the tissue.
  • Owners evaluated the clinical progress of their horses through a questionnaire six weeks after the biopsy. Survival rates were assessed after a year.

Findings

  • The study included a total of 149 horses. The most frequently reported clinical signs were weight loss, reduced performance, and abdominal pain during palpation.
  • Most of the horses exhibited partial malabsorption during an oral glucose absorption test, indicative of digestive abnormalities.
  • Those with severe IBD had lower protein concentrations in their serum, indicating nutritional deficiency and malabsorption.
  • Lymphoplasmacytic enteritis, characterized by the infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells, was the most prevalent form of IBD (78.5% of cases). Six of the horses had neutrophilic infiltration in the duodenum, suggesting acute inflammatory response.

Treatment Outcomes and Survival

  • About 71% of cases showed clinical improvement six weeks post-biopsy, primarily following corticosteroid treatment.
  • Second biopsy results, however, weren’t a reliable predictor of clinical progress.
  • Horses that showed improvement after six weeks had better survival rates after one year.

In conclusion, the study provided valuable insights into the pathology and prognosis of IBD in horses, which could be instrumental for veterinarians in diagnosing and managing this chronic health condition.

Cite This Article

APA
Kranenburg LC, Bouwmeester BF, van den Boom R. (2024). Findings and Prognosis in 149 Horses with Histological Changes Compatible with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Animals (Basel), 14(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111638

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 11

Researcher Affiliations

Kranenburg, Lieuwke Cecilia
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Bouwmeester, Bo F
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van den Boom, Robin
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

This article includes 45 references
  1. Schumacher J, Edwards JF, Cohen ND. Chronic idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases of the horse. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 2000;14:258–265.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2000.tb01164.xpubmed: 10830538google scholar: lookup
  2. Mair TS, Pearson GR, Divers TJ. Malabsorption syndromes in the horse. Equine Vet. Educ. 2006;18:299–308.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3292.2006.tb00466.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  3. Kalck KA. Inflammatory bowel disease in horses. Vet. Clin. Equine 2009;25:303–315.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2009.04.008pubmed: 19580941google scholar: lookup
  4. Metcalfe LV, More SJ, Duggan V, Katz LM. A retrospective study of horses investigated for weight loss despite a good appetite (2002–2011). Equine Vet. J. 2013;45:340–345.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00624.xpubmed: 22943442google scholar: lookup
  5. Boshuizen B, Ploeg M, Dewulf J, Klooster S, De Bruijn M, Picavet M-T, Palmers K, Plancke L, De Cock H, Theelen M. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in horses: A retrospective study exploring the value of different diagnostic approaches. BMC Vet. Res. 2018;14:21.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1343-1pmc: PMC5775604pubmed: 29351774google scholar: lookup
  6. Van der Kolk JH, Van Putten LA, Mulder CJ, Grinwis GCM, Reijm M, Butler CM, Von Blomberg BME. Gluten-dependent antibodies in horses with inflammatory small bowel disease (ISBD). Vet. Q. 2012;32:3–11.
    doi: 10.1080/01652176.2012.675636pubmed: 22489998google scholar: lookup
  7. Cimprich RE. Equine granulomatous enteritis. Vet. Pathol. 1974;11:535–547.
    doi: 10.1177/030098587401100608pubmed: 4466032google scholar: lookup
  8. Lindberg R. Pathology of equine granulomatous enteritis. J. Comp. Pathol. 1984;94:233–247.
    doi: 10.1016/0021-9975(84)90043-4pubmed: 6736310google scholar: lookup
  9. Lindberg R, Persson SG, Jones B, Thoren-Tolling K, Ederoth M. Clinical and pathophysiological features of granulomatous enteritis and eosinophilic granulomatosis in the horse. Zentralbl. Veterinarmed. A 1985;32:526–539.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.1985.tb01973.xpubmed: 3933217google scholar: lookup
  10. Roberts MC, Kelly WR. Granulomatous enteritis in a young standardbred mare. Aust. Vet. J. 1980;56:230–233.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1980.tb15980.xpubmed: 7436927google scholar: lookup
  11. Lindberg R. Ultrastructure of granulomatous infiltrates in the small bowel in equine granulomatous enteritis. Zentralbl. Veterinarmed. A 1986;33:111–122.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.1986.tb00515.xpubmed: 3087106google scholar: lookup
  12. Siwńnska 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 2022;12:3527.
    doi: 10.3390/ani12243527pmc: PMC9774437pubmed: 36552447google scholar: lookup
  13. Kemper DL, Perkins GA, Schumacher J, Edwards JF, Valentine BA, Divers TJ, Cohen ND. Equine lymphocytic-plasmacytic enterocolitis: A retrospective study of 14 cases. Equine Vet. J. 2000;32:108–112.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2000.tb05346.xpubmed: 11202375google scholar: lookup
  14. Siwińska N, Żak-Bochenek A, Slowikowska M, Borowicz H, Nowak M, Cioputa R, Kubiok K, Niedźwiedź A. Progressive lymphocytic-plasmocytic enteritis in a horse. Pferdeheilkunde 2017;33:452–456.
    doi: 10.21836/PEM20170505google scholar: lookup
  15. Perez Olmos JF, Schofield WL, Dillon H, Sadlier M, Fogarty U. Circumferential mural bands in the small intestine causing simple obstructive colic: A case series. Equine Vet. J. 2006;38:354–359.
    doi: 10.2746/042516406777749308pubmed: 16866205google scholar: lookup
  16. Vitale V. Inflammatory bowel disease in horses: What do we know?. Equine Vet. Educ. 2022;34:493–500.
    doi: 10.1111/eve.13537google scholar: lookup
  17. Mair TS, Hillyer MH, Taylor FG, Pearson GR. Small intestinal malabsorption in the horse: An assessment of the specificity of the oral glucose tolerance test. Equine Vet. J. 1991;23:344–346.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1991.tb03735.xpubmed: 1959524google scholar: lookup
  18. Bolton JR, Merritt AM, Cimprich RE, Ramberg CF, Streett W. Normal and abnormal xylose absorption in the horse. Cornell Vet. 1976;66:183–197.
    pubmed: 1261270
  19. Kaikkonen R, Niinisto 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;56:35.
    doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-56-35pmc: PMC4055252pubmed: 24894126google scholar: lookup
  20. Hintz HF, Hogue DE, Walker EF, Lowe JE Jr, Schryver HF. Apparent digestion in various segments of the digestive tract of ponies fed diets with varying roughage-grain ratios. J. Anim. Sci. 1971;32:245–248.
    doi: 10.2527/jas1971.322245xpubmed: 5543016google scholar: lookup
  21. Packer M, Patterson-Kane JC, Smith KC, Durham AE. Quantification of immune cell populations in the lamina propria of equine jejunal biopsy specimens. J. Comp. Pathol. 2005;132:90–95.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2004.06.002pubmed: 15629483google scholar: lookup
  22. Lindberg R, Nygren A, Persson SGB. Rectal biopsy diagnosis in horses with clinical signs of intestinal disorders: A retrospective study of 116 cases. Equine Vet. J. 1996;28:275–284.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1996.tb03091.xpubmed: 8818593google scholar: lookup
  23. Barr BS. Infiltrative intestinal disease. Vet. Clin. N. Am. Equine Pract. 2006;22:1.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2005.12.030pubmed: 16627090google scholar: lookup
  24. Colombino E, Raspa F, Perotti M, Bergero D, Vervuert I, Valle E, Capucchio MT. Gut health of horses: Effects of high- fibre vs. high starch diet on histological and morphometrical parameters. BMC Vet. Res. 2022;18:338.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03433-ypmc: PMC9454146pubmed: 36076239google scholar: lookup
  25. Duryea JH, Ainsworth DM, Mauldin EA, Cooper BJ, Edwards RB 3rd. Clinical remission of granulomatous enteritis in a standardbred gelding following long-term dexamethasone administration. Equine Vet. J. 1997;29:164–167.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1997.tb01662.xpubmed: 9104570google scholar: lookup
  26. Humber KA, Beech J, Cudd TA, Palmer JE, Gardner SY, Sommer MM. Azathioprine for treatment of immune-mediated thrombocytopenia in two horses. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1991;199:591–594.
    doi: 10.2460/javma.1991.199.05.591pubmed: 1787117google scholar: lookup
  27. Pusterla N, Pratt SM, Magdesian KG, Carlson GP. Idiopathic immune-mediated polysynovitis in three horses. Vet. Rec. 2006;159:13–15.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.159.1.13pubmed: 16816155google scholar: lookup
  28. Gisbert JP, Linares PM, McNicholl AG, Maté J, Gomollón F. Meta-analysis: The efficacy of azathioprine and mercaptopurine in ulcerative colitis. Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. 2009;30:126–137.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2009.04023.xpubmed: 19392869google scholar: lookup
  29. Divers TJ. Azathioprine a useful treatment for immunemediated disorders in the horse?. Equine Vet. Educ. 2010;22:501–502.
    doi: 10.1111/j.0957-7734.2010.00117.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  30. Schumacher J, Moll HD, Spano JS, Barone LM, Powers RD. Effect of intestinal resection on two juvenile horses with granulomatous enteritis. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 1990;4:153–156.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1990.tb00889.xpubmed: 2366225google scholar: lookup
  31. Southwood LL, Kawcak CE, Trotter GW, Stashak TS, Frisbie DD. Idiopathic focal eosinophilic enteritis associated with small intestinal obstruction in 6 horses. Vet. Surg. 2000;29:415–419.
    doi: 10.1053/jvet.2000.7543pubmed: 10999455google scholar: lookup
  32. Archer DC, Barrie Edwards G, Kelly DF, French NP, Proudman CJ. Obstruction of equine small intestine associated with focal idiopathic eosinophilic enteritis: An emerging disease?. Vet. J. 2006;171:504–512.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2005.02.031pubmed: 16624717google scholar: lookup
  33. Gibson KT, Alders RG. Eosinophilic enterocolitis and dermatitis in two horses. Equine Vet. J. 1987;19:247–252.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1987.tb01397.xpubmed: 3608966google scholar: lookup
  34. Kostiuk D. Equine eosinophilic enterocolitis. Can. Vet. J. 2000;41:871–872.
    pmc: PMC1476428pubmed: 11126494
  35. Murphy D, Reid SW, Love S. Modified oral glucose tolerance test as an indicator of small intestinal pathology in horses. Vet. Rec. 1997;140:342–343.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.140.13.342pubmed: 9106975google scholar: lookup
  36. Clark ES, Morris DD, Allen D, Tyler DE. Lymphocytic enteritis in a filly. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1988;193:1281–1283.
    pubmed: 3204053
  37. MacAllister CG, Mosier D, Qualls CW, Cowell RL Jr. Lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis in two horses. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1990;196:1995–1998.
    doi: 10.2460/javma.1990.196.12.1995pubmed: 2365625google scholar: lookup
  38. Brown CM. The diagnostic value of the D-xylose absorption test in horses with unexplained chronic weight loss. Br. Vet. J. 1992;148:41–44.
    doi: 10.1016/0007-1935(92)90065-9pubmed: 1551013google scholar: lookup
  39. German AJ, Hall EJ, Day MJ. Chronic intestinal inflammation and intestinal disease in dogs. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 2003;17:8–20.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2003.tb01318.xpubmed: 12564722google scholar: lookup
  40. Jacobs G, Collins-Kelly L, Lappin M, Tyler D. Lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis in 24 dogs. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 1990;4:45–53.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1990.tb00875.xpubmed: 2342021google scholar: lookup
  41. Maunder CL, Reynolds ZF, Peacock L, Hall EJ, Day MJ, Cogan TA. Campylobacter species and neutrophilic inflammatory bowel disease in cats. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 2016;30:996–1001.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.14374pmc: PMC5108413pubmed: 27362482google scholar: lookup
  42. Rychlik A, Kaczmar E. Endoscopic biopsies and histopathological findings in diagnosing chronic gastrointestinal disorders in dogs and cats. Vet. Med. Int. 2020;2020:8827538.
    doi: 10.1155/2020/8827538pmc: PMC7568807pubmed: 33133490google scholar: lookup
  43. Allenspach KA, Mochel JP, Du Y, Priestnall SL, Moore F, Slayter M, Rodrigues A, Ackermann M, Krockenberger M, Mansell J. Correlating gastrointestinal histopathologic changes to clinical disease activity in dogs with idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease. Vet. Pathol. 2019;56:435–443.
    doi: 10.1177/0300985818813090pubmed: 30563436google scholar: lookup
  44. Arroyo LG, Costa MC, Guest BB, Plattner BL, Lillie BN, Weese JS. Duodenitis-proximal jejunitis in horses after experimental administration of clostridium difficile toxins. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 2017;31:158–163.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.14624pmc: PMC5259639pubmed: 27906466google scholar: lookup
  45. Arroyo LG, Gomez DE, Martins C. Equine duodenitis-proximal jejunitis: A review. Can. Vet. J. 2018;59:510–517.
    pmc: PMC5901841pubmed: 29904204
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,001 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.