FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Acta Vet Scand / Lawsonia intracellularis associated equine proliferative ent...
Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2019; 61(1); 12; doi: 10.1186/s13028-019-0447-3

Lawsonia intracellularis associated equine proliferative enteropathy in Danish weanling foals.

Abstract: Lawsonia intracellularis, an obligate intracellular bacterium, causes equine proliferative enteropathy, mainly in horses around weaning. This disease is rarely reported in the Scandinavian countries. Results: Five cases of equine proliferative enteropathy were diagnosed between 2008-2016 at the University of Copenhagen Large Animal Teaching Hospital. Cases were Danish Warmbloods and a Friesian horse, aged 6-7 months, presenting with typical clinical signs of lethargy, poor body condition, pyrexia and diarrhea. Clinical pathology was consistent with previous reports of severe hypoalbuminemia and leukocytosis. Diagnosis was confirmed by fecal polymerase chain reaction, serum immunomonolayer peroxidase assay and/or immunofluorescence and fluorescence in situ hybridization performed on formalin-fixed ileum samples. Concurrent intestinal parasitism was present in all five cases. Treatment consisted of antimicrobial therapy, anti-inflammatories, intravenous crystalloids and plasma. Three foals were euthanised due to deterioration and poor response to treatment, one with complications of septic arthritis and Strongylus vulgaris associated intestinal infarct. The other two foals survived and were reported by the owners to be healthy on long-term follow-up. Conclusions: Equine proliferative enteropathy is a disease to consider in young horses presenting with diarrhea and hypoproteinemia in Denmark.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2019-03-08 PubMed ID: 30850006PubMed Central: PMC6407178DOI: 10.1186/s13028-019-0447-3Google 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 study examines the occurrence of equine proliferative enteropathy, a disease caused by the bacterium Lawsonia intracellularis, in weanling foals in Denmark. The researchers document five cases of this disease over eight years, outline the treatment methods used, and track the long-term health of the affected horses.

Case Study Parameters

  • The study was carried out at the University of Copenhagen Large Animal Teaching Hospital over the course of eight years, between 2008 and 2016.
  • Five cases of equine proliferative enteropathy were identified. The affected horses were 6-7 month old Danish Warmbloods and a Friesian horse. These foals displayed symptoms such as lethargy, poor body condition, fever, and diarrhea.

Diagnostic Methods

  • The researchers confirmed the diagnosis through fecal polymerase chain reaction, serum immunomonolayer peroxidase assay, and immunofluorescence and fluorescence in situ hybridization performed on formalin-fixed ileum samples.
  • Pathological conditions consistent with the disease, such as hypoalbuminemia (low levels of albumin in the blood) and leukocytosis (a high white blood cell count), were observed in the affected horses.
  • Notably, the presence of intestinal parasites was documented in all five cases.

Treatment and Outcome

  • The treatment regimen included antimicrobial therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, intravenous crystalloids, and plasma.
  • Three of the five affected foals had to be euthanised due to their deteriorating condition and lack of response to treatment. One of these suffered further complications from septic arthritis and intestinal infarct associated with Strongylus vulgaris, a type of parasitic worm.
  • The remaining two foals improved post-treatment and were reported by their owners to be healthy during long-term follow-up.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes that equine proliferative enteropathy should be considered as a potential diagnosis in young horses in Denmark presenting with symptoms of diarrhea and hypoproteinemia.

Cite This Article

APA
Bohlin AM, Olsen SN, Laursen SH, Öhman A, van Galen G. (2019). Lawsonia intracellularis associated equine proliferative enteropathy in Danish weanling foals. Acta Vet Scand, 61(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-019-0447-3

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 61
Issue: 1
Pages: 12

Researcher Affiliations

Bohlin, Anna Margareta
  • Evidensia Equine Specialist Hospital Helsingborg, Bergavägen 3, 254 66, Helsingborg, Sweden. anna.bohlin@evidensia.se.
Olsen, Susanne Nautrup
  • Large Animal Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Agrovej 8, 2630, Taastrup, Denmark.
Laursen, Sigrid Hyldahl
  • Large Animal Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Agrovej 8, 2630, Taastrup, Denmark.
Öhman, Anna
  • Evidensia Equine Specialist Hospital Helsingborg, Bergavägen 3, 254 66, Helsingborg, Sweden.
van Galen, Gaby
  • Large Animal Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Agrovej 8, 2630, Taastrup, Denmark.
  • Faculty of Science, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, 410 Werombi Road, Camden, NSW, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Desulfovibrionaceae Infections / epidemiology
  • Desulfovibrionaceae Infections / pathology
  • Desulfovibrionaceae Infections / veterinary
  • Diarrhea / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Intestinal Diseases / epidemiology
  • Intestinal Diseases / microbiology
  • Intestinal Diseases / pathology
  • Intestinal Diseases / veterinary
  • Lawsonia Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Male

References

This article includes 39 references
  1. Frazer ML. Lawsonia intracellularis infection in horses: 2005–2007.. J Vet Intern Med 2008;22:1243–1248.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0160.xpubmed: 18681919google scholar: lookup
  2. Lawson GHK, Gebhart CJ. Proliferative enteropathy.. J Comp Path 2000;122:77–100.
    doi: 10.1053/jcpa.1999.0347pubmed: 10684678google scholar: lookup
  3. Arroyo LG, ter Woort F, Baird JD, Tatiersky L, DeLay J, van Dreumel T. Lawsonia intracellularis-associated ulcerative and necro-hemorrhagic enteritis in 5 weanling foals.. Can Vet J 2013;54:853–858.
    pmc: PMC3743569pubmed: 24155489
  4. Lavoie JP, Drolet R, Parsons D, Léguillette R, Sauvageau R, Shapiro J. Equine proliferative enteropathy: a cause of weight loss, colic, diarrhoea and hypoproteinemia in foals on three breeding farms in Canada.. Equine Vet J 2000;32:418–425.
    doi: 10.2746/042516400777591110pubmed: 11037264google scholar: lookup
  5. Atherton RP, McKenzie HC. Alternative antimicrobial agents in the treatment of proliferative enteropathy in horses.. J Equine Vet Sci 2006;26:535–541.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2006.09.002google scholar: lookup
  6. Pusterla N, Mapes S, Johnson C, Slovis N, Page A, Gebhart C. Comparison of feces versus rectal swabs for the molecular detection of Lawsonia intracellularis in foals with equine proliferative enteropathy.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2010;22:741–744.
    doi: 10.1177/104063871002200513pubmed: 20807932google scholar: lookup
  7. Sampieri F, Hinchcliff KW, Toribio RE. Tetracycline therapy of Lawsonia intracellularis enteropathy in foals.. Equine Vet J 2006;38:89–92.
    doi: 10.2746/042516406775374270pubmed: 16411593google scholar: lookup
  8. Merlo JL, Sheats MK, Elce Y, Hunter S, Breuhaus BA. Outbreak of Lawsonia intracellularis on a Standardbred breeding farm in North Carolina.. Equine Vet Educ 2009;21:179–182.
    doi: 10.2746/095777309X400333google scholar: lookup
  9. Hassenin ASH, Sena S, Gebhart CJ, Goyal SM. Comparison of ELISA and IPMA tests for the detection of anti-Lawsonia antibodies in horses.. IJOART 2017;6:17–24.
  10. Jones GF, Ward GE, Murtaugh MP, Lin G, Gebhart CJ. Enhanced detection of intracellular organism of swine proliferative enteritis, ileal symbiont intracellularis, in feces by polymerase chain reaction.. J Clin Microbiol 1993;31:2611–2615.
    pmc: PMC265945pubmed: 8253956
  11. Guerdes RMC, Gebhart CJ, Winkelman NL, Mackie-Nuss RAC, Marsteller TA, Deen J. Comparison of different methods for diagnosis of porcine proliferative enteropathy.. Can J Vet Res 2002;66:99–107.
    pmc: PMC226990pubmed: 11989741
  12. Jensen TK, Moller K, Lesser TD, Jorsal SE. Comparison of histology, immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction for detection of Lawsonia intracellularis in natural porcine proliferative enteropathy.. Eur J Vet Pathol 1997;3:115–123.
  13. Al-Ghamdi GM, Guerdes RMC, Sage AM, Hayden DW, Neubauer A, Ames TR. Reproduction of proliferative enteropathy in foals after challenge with Lawsonia intracellularis infected porcine intestinal mucosae homogenate.. B J Vet Med 2012;15:273–282.
  14. Jensen TK, Boesen HT, Vigre H, Boye M. Detection of Lawsonia intracellularis in formalin-fixed porcine intestinal tissue samples: comparison of immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization, and evaluation of the effects of controlled autolysis.. J Comp Path 2009;142:1–8.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2009.04.001pubmed: 19909968google scholar: lookup
  15. Jensen TK. Lawsonia intracellularis enteritis in two Danish foals.. J Comp Pat 2015;152:82.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2014.10.167google scholar: lookup
  16. Weese JS. Antimicrobial therapy for difficult to identify and atypical pathogens.. Equine Vet Educ 2009;21:388–392.
    doi: 10.2746/095777308X334284google scholar: lookup
  17. Pusterla N, Wattanaphansak S, Mapes S, Collier J, Hill J, DiFrancesco M. Oral infection of weanling foals with an equine isolate of Lawsonia intracellularis, agent of equine proliferative enteropathy.. J Vet Intern Med 2010;24:622–627.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0482.xpubmed: 20337907google scholar: lookup
  18. Page AE, Loynachan AT, Bryant U, Stills HF Jr, Adams AA, Gebhart CJ. Characterization of the interferon gamma response to Lawsonia intracellularis using an equine proliferative enteropathy challenge (EPE) model.. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2011;143:55–65.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2011.06.023pubmed: 21719114google scholar: lookup
  19. Page AE, Fallon LH, Bryant UK, Horohov DW, Luna TW, Marsh PS. Acute deterioration and death with necrotizing enteritis associated with Lawsonia intracellularis in 4 weanling horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2012;26:1476–1480.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.01002.xpubmed: 23039901google scholar: lookup
  20. Pusterla N, Gebhart CJ. Equine proliferative enteropathy—a review of recent developments.. Equine Vet J 2013;45:403–409.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12075pmc: PMC7163532pubmed: 23662705google scholar: lookup
  21. Wuersch K, Hussey D, Koch C, Overmann A. Lawsonia intracellularis proliferative enteropathy in a filly.. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med 2006;53:17–21.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.2006.00776.xpubmed: 16411902google scholar: lookup
  22. Allen KJ, Pearson GR, Fews D, McOrist S, Brazil TJ. Lawsonia intracellularis proliferative enteropathy in a weanling foal, with a tentative histological diagnosis of lymphocytic plasmacytic enteritis.. Equine Vet Educ 2009;21:411–414.
    doi: 10.2746/095777309X446595google scholar: lookup
  23. Deprez P, Chiers K, Gebhart CJ, Ducatelle D, Lefere L, Vanschandevijl K. Lawsonia intracellularis infection in a 12-month- old colt in Belgium.. Vet Rec 2005;157:774–776.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.157.24.774pubmed: 16339981google scholar: lookup
  24. Steinman A, Aharonson-Raz K, Blum SE, Shnaiderman A, Klement E, Lensky IM. Demographic and environmental risk factors for exposure to Lawsonia intracellularis in horses in Israel.. J Equine Vet Sci 2014;34:641–646.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2013.12.003google scholar: lookup
  25. Gabardo MP, Sato JPH, Resende TP, Guedes RMC. Equine proliferative enteropathy on a Brazilian farm.. Pesq Vet Bras 2015;35:443–447.
    doi: 10.1590/S0100-736X2015000500009google scholar: lookup
  26. McClintock SA, Collins AM. Lawsonia intracellularis proliferative enteropathy in a weanling foal in Australia.. Aust Vet J 2004;82:750–752.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2004.tb13236.xpubmed: 15648934google scholar: lookup
  27. Olsen SN, Jungersen G, Jensen TK. Lawsonia intracellularis enteritis in foals in Denmark.. Dansk Vet Tidsskr 2009;92:37.
  28. Guerdes RCM, Gebhart CJ, Deen J, Winkelman N. Validation of an immunoperoxidase monolayer assay as a serologic test for porcine proliferative enteropathy.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2002;14:528–530.
    doi: 10.1177/104063870201400618pubmed: 12423042google scholar: lookup
  29. Magtoto RL, Vegi A, Wang C, Johnson JK, Ramamoorthy S. Evaluation and use of a serological assay for the detection of antibodies to Lawsonia intracellularis in swine.. Int J Vet Sci Med 2014;2:109–113.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijvsm.2014.08.001google scholar: lookup
  30. Johansson T, Råsbäck T, Roneus M, Fellström C, Jacobson M. Presence of Lawsonia intracellularis and Brachyspira spp in horses.. Svensk Vet Tidni 2006;10:11–15.
  31. Aleman M, Gillis CL, Nieto JE, Renaudin CD, Bea J. Ultrasonographic anatomy and biometric analysis of the thoracic and abdominal organs in healthy foals from birth to age 6 months.. Equine Vet J 2002;34:649–655.
    doi: 10.2746/042516402776250414pubmed: 12455834google scholar: lookup
  32. Stege H, Jensen TK, Moller K, Baekbo P, Jorsal SE. Prevalence of intestinal pathogens in Danish finishing pig herds.. Prev Vet Med 2017;46:1–14.
    pubmed: 10960714
  33. Vannucci FA, Pusterla N, Mapes SM. Evidence of host adaptation in Lawsonia intracellularis infections.. Vet Res 2012;43:1–9.
    doi: 10.1186/1297-9716-43-53pmc: PMC3443049pubmed: 22715937google scholar: lookup
  34. Mirajkar NS, Kelley MR, Gebhart CJ. Draft genome sequence of Lawsonia intracellularis strain E40504, isolated from a horse diagnosed with equine proliferative enteropathy.. Genome Announc 2017;5:e00330–e00417.
    pmc: PMC5427216pubmed: 28495781
  35. Schumacher J, Rolsma M, Brock KV, Gebhart CJ. Surgical and medical treatment of an Arabian filly with proliferative enteropathy caused by Lawsonia intracellularis.. J Vet Intern Med 2000;14:630–632.
    pubmed: 11110386
  36. Jordan DM, Knittel JP, Roof MB, Schwartz K, Larson D, Hoffman LJ. Detection of Lawsonia intracellularis in swine using polymerase chain reaction methodology.. J Vet Diagn Invest 1999;11:45–49.
    doi: 10.1177/104063879901100107pubmed: 9925211google scholar: lookup
  37. McOrist S, Gebhart CJ, Lawson GH. Polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of porcine proliferative enteropathy.. Vet Microbiol 1994;41:205–212.
    doi: 10.1016/0378-1135(94)90101-5pubmed: 7975146google scholar: lookup
  38. Moller K, Jensen TK, Jorsal SE, Leser TD, Carstensen B. Detection of Lawsonia intracellularis, Serpulina hyodysenteriae, weakly beta-haemolytic intestinal spirochaetes, Salmonella enterica, and haemolytic Escherichia coli from swine herds with and without diarrhoea among growing pigs.. Vet Microbiol 1998;62:59–72.
    doi: 10.1016/S0378-1135(98)00199-0pubmed: 9659692google scholar: lookup
  39. Dauvillier J, Picandet V, Harel J, Gottschalk M, Desrosiers R, Jean D. Diagnostic and epidemiological features of Lawsonia intracellularis enteropathy in 2 foals.. Can Vet J 2008;47:689–691.
    pmc: PMC1482453pubmed: 16898113
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.