Lawsonia intracellularis infection in horses: 2005-2007.
Abstract: Lawsonia intracellularis is an emerging equine pathogen that is a cause of equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE). Objective: To describe the signalment, month of presentation, common clinical signs, clinicopathologic values, diagnostic tests used, antimicrobial use, and survival status in horses affected with EPE; to evaluate how affected horses sold at public auction as yearlings; and to determine results of fecal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serum immunoperoxidase monolayer assay (IPMA) results in age matched, clinically normal herdmates. Methods: The study group was 57 horses treated for disease associated with L. intracellularis infection between August 2005 and January 2007. Methods: Retrospective study examined horses exhibiting evidence of infection with L. intracellularis and testing positive for fecal PCR or serum IPMA. Results: Horses ranged in age from 2 to 8 months with a median age of 6 months, and all were examined between August and January. Ventral edema was present in 81% of horses and hypoalbuminemia occurred in all horses. Only 50% of horses tested positive on both PCR and IPMA. Ninety-three percent of horses survived, and survival was unrelated to antimicrobial administered. Affected horses sold as yearlings an average of 68% less than other yearlings by the same sire. Age matched, clinically normal herdmates also tested positive for L. intracellularis on fecal PCR (6%) and IPMA (33%). Conclusions: L. intracellularis infection should be considered in young horses with ventral edema and hypoalbuminemia that are examined between August and January. Both fecal PCR and serum IPMA are needed to help determine disease status. Treated animals usually survive, although they do not sell for as high a price at public auction as other yearlings by the same sire. Age matched, clinically normal herdmates also test positive for L. intracellularis on fecal PCR and serum IPMA.
Publication Date: 2008-08-04 PubMed ID: 18681919DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0160.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study examines the characteristics, clinical symptoms, tests, medication used, and survival rate of horses infected with Lawsonia intracellularis, an equine pathogen known to cause equine proliferative enteropathy. The study also investigates how these infections affect subsequent sale prices of the afflicted horses at public auctions, as well as infection rates in clinically normal herd mates of similar ages.
Study Methods
- The researchers investigated 57 horses that were treated for diseases associated with L. intracellularis infection between August 2005 to January 2007.
- This retrospective study involved the examination of horses showing evidence of L. intracellularis infection and testing either positive for fecal Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or serum Immunoperoxidase Monolayer Assay (IPMA).
Results of the Study
- Horses in the study ranged in age from 2 to 8 months, and all were examined between August and January.
- The most common symptoms were ventral edema, present in 81% of the affected horses, and hypoalbuminemia, which occurred in all affected horses.
- Of those tested, 50% of the horses tested positive on both PCR and IPMA.
- The survival rate was 93%, and the type of antimicrobial administered didn’t impact survival rates.
- Infected horses, when sold as yearlings at public auctions, fetched an average of 68% less than other yearlings sired by the same stallion.
- Normal, similar-aged herdmates of the affected horses also tested positive for L. intracellularis with a prevalence of 6% for fecal PCR and 33% for serum IPMA.
Conclusions
- Young horses with symptoms of ventral edema and hypoalbuminemia that are examined between August and January should be suspected for L. intracellularis infection.
- Both fecal PCR and serum IPMA tests are necessary to help ascertain disease status.
- Although infected horses generally survive after treatment, their market value at public auctions is significantly lower than their non-infected counterparts sired by the same stallion.
- Age-matched, clinically healthy herd mates have a likelihood of testing positive for L. intracellularis via fecal PCR and serum IPMA.
Cite This Article
APA
Frazer ML.
(2008).
Lawsonia intracellularis infection in horses: 2005-2007.
J Vet Intern Med, 22(5), 1243-1248.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0160.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Lexington, KY, USA. mfrazer@hagyard.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
- Blood Transfusion / veterinary
- Chloramphenicol / therapeutic use
- Clarithromycin / therapeutic use
- Colloids / therapeutic use
- Desulfovibrionaceae Infections / drug therapy
- Desulfovibrionaceae Infections / microbiology
- Desulfovibrionaceae Infections / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives / therapeutic use
- Lawsonia Bacteria
- Male
- Metronidazole / therapeutic use
- Oxytetracycline / therapeutic use
- Retrospective Studies
Citations
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