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Home / Equine Research Bank / PLoS One / Idiopathic focal eosinophilic enteritis (IFEE), an emerging ...
PloS one2014; 9(12); e112072; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112072

Idiopathic focal eosinophilic enteritis (IFEE), an emerging cause of abdominal pain in horses: the effect of age, time and geographical location on risk.

Abstract: Idiopathic focal eosinophilic enteritis (IFEE) is an emerging cause of abdominal pain (colic) in horses that frequently requires surgical intervention to prevent death. The epidemiology of IFEE is poorly understood and it is difficult to diagnose pre-operatively. The aetiology of this condition and methods of possible prevention are currently unknown. The aims of this study were to investigate temporal and spatial heterogeneity in IFEE risk and to ascertain the effect of horse age on risk. Results: A retrospective, nested case-control study was undertaken using data from 85 IFEE cases and 848 randomly selected controls admitted to a UK equine hospital for exploratory laparotomy to investigate the cause of colic over a 10-year period. Generalised additive models (GAMs) were used to quantify temporal and age effects on the odds of IFEE and to provide mapped estimates of 'residual' risk over the study region. The relative risk of IFEE increased over the study period (p = 0.001) and a seasonal pattern was evident (p<0.01) with greatest risk of IFEE being identified between the months of July and November. IFEE risk decreased with increasing age (p<0.001) with younger (0-5 years old) horses being at greatest risk. The mapped surface estimate exhibited significantly atypical sub-regions (p<0.001) with increased IFEE risk in horses residing in the North-West of the study region. Conclusions: IFEE was found to exhibit both spatial and temporal variation in risk and is more likely to occur in younger horses. This information may help to identify horses at increased risk of IFEE, provide clues about the aetiology of this condition and to identify areas that require further research.
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Publication Date: 2014-12-02 PubMed ID: 25463382PubMed Central: PMC4251896DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112072Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 investigates the factors impacting the risk of Idiopathic focal eosinophilic enteritis (IFEE), a condition causing abdominal pain in horses. A correlation was found between the risk of IFEE and factors such as temporal and spatial variation, as well as age of the horse.

Objective of the Study

  • The research aimed at understanding the epidemiology of IFEE. The condition is increasing in horses and often requires surgical procedures to prevent death. It is however a challenge to diagnose pre-surgery.
  • The researchers were particularly interested in understanding the impact of age, time and geographical location on the risk of developing IFEE, and how it affects its spatial and temporal heterogeneity.
  • This study aimed to explore the unknown cause (aetiology) of this condition and the possible methods of prevention.

Methodology

  • The researchers undertook a retrospective, nested case-control study, using data from 85 IFEE cases and 848 control horses, who were admitted to a UK equine hospital over a 10-year period.
  • These horses had been admitted for investigatory laparotomy due to colic symptoms.
  • Generalised additive models (GAMs) were used to compute the temporal age effects on the odds of suffering from IFEE and provided mapped estimates of residual risk across the studied area.

Study Results

  • The study found that the relative risk of IFEE had increased over the duration of the study.
  • A seasonal pattern was observed with the greatest risk of IFEE noted between the months of July and November.
  • Increased IFEE risk was significantly associated with younger horses (0-5 years old), indicating that the risk decreases with the horse’s age.
  • The mapped surface estimates showed significantly atypical sub-regions that had increased risk. Specifically, horses residing in the North-West of the study region were at a higher risk of IFEE.

Conclusion and Implications

  • IFEE risk was found to be primarily influenced by spatial, temporal and age-related factors.
  • Understanding these influences may help identify horses at an increased risk of IFEE and provides clues about the possible causes of this condition.
  • This knowledge also helps to pinpoint areas where more research is needed to further explore this condition.

Cite This Article

APA
Archer DC, Costain DA, Sherlock C. (2014). Idiopathic focal eosinophilic enteritis (IFEE), an emerging cause of abdominal pain in horses: the effect of age, time and geographical location on risk. PLoS One, 9(12), e112072. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0112072

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 12
Pages: e112072

Researcher Affiliations

Archer, Debra C
  • Institute of Infection and Global Health/School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, United Kingdom.
Costain, Deborah A
  • Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom.
Sherlock, Chris
  • Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom.

MeSH Terms

  • Abdominal Pain / epidemiology
  • Abdominal Pain / surgery
  • Abdominal Pain / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Enteritis / epidemiology
  • Enteritis / surgery
  • Enteritis / veterinary
  • Eosinophilia / epidemiology
  • Eosinophilia / surgery
  • Eosinophilia / veterinary
  • Gastritis / epidemiology
  • Gastritis / surgery
  • Gastritis / veterinary
  • Geography
  • Horses
  • Laparotomy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Seasons
  • Time Factors

Conflict of Interest Statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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