Necrotizing enterocolitis in horses: a retrospective study.
Abstract: The clinical and clinicopathologic characteristics of fatal necrotizing enterocolitis were examined in 16 horses (age 4 months to 12 years). At initial presentation, 8 of 16 horses were pyrexic (median temperature, 38.4 degrees C; range, 33.8 to 40.6 degrees C); all 16 were tachycardic (median heart rate, 93 bpm, range, 66 to 138 bpm); 13 of 16 were tachypneic (median heart rate, 36 bpm, range, 16 to 80 bpm), dehydrated, and had discolored mucous membranes. All horses that were pyrexic were also tachycardic and tachypneic. PCV was high (> 45%) in 14 horses. Six horses were leukopenic (< 5,000 cells/microL); 12 were neutropenic (< 2,300 cells/microL), and 14 had > 100 band neutrophils/microL. Twelve horses were acidemic (pH < 7.37; range, 6.88 to 7.33) and the venous bicarbonate concentration was low (< 23 mEq/L) in 14 horses. Median anion gap in 16 horses was 31.5 mEq/L (> 15 mEq/L in 15 horses). Eleven of 16 horses were hyponatremic (< 137 mEq/L), 1 horse was hypernatremic (> 143 mEq/L), 3 were hypokalemic (< 3.2 mEq/L), 6 were hyperkalemic (> 4.5 mEq/L), and 14 were hypochloremic (< 98 mEq/L). Serum creatinine concentrations were high (> 1.4 mg/dL) in 15 horses. Abdominal fluid was examined in 12 horses 4 had total protein concentrations > 2.5 g/dL and 6 had nucleated cell counts > 5,000/ microL and < 10,000/microL; none had > 10,000/microL. Eight of 12 samples revealed a nondegenerate neutrophilia (> 50%). Abdominal fluid collected from 4 horses immediately before death was normal in 2 horses and indicative of suppurative inflammation in 2. All 8 horses tested had low or nonexistent serum immunofluorescent antibody titers to Ehrlichia risticii. Four of 16 horses had Salmonella spp isolated from feces or tissues. All 16 horses either died (5 of 16; 31%) or were euthanized because of a grave prognosis. Median time to death was 45.5 hours (range, 7 to 113 hours) from the time of admission. Death was preceded by severe abdominal pain in 14 horses. Fatal necrotizing enterocolitis of horses is characterized by a brief course, profound dehydration, electrolyte derangements, acid-base abnormalities, and terminally, severe abdominal pain. Abdominal fluid analysis was frequently not indicative of the severity of disease.
Publication Date: 1996-07-01 PubMed ID: 8819053DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1996.tb02060.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research is a retrospective study on necrotizing enterocolitis in horses, investigating the clinical and clinicopathologic characteristics of the disease which leads to the severe loss of gut functions. The study was conducted on 16 horses with a range of ages (4 months to 12 years), who displayed symptoms of extreme discomfort or pain in the abdomen, dehydration, significant alterations in their electrolyte balance, and exceedingly high levels of certain cells and proteins in their blood.
Clinical Symptoms
- The study found that half of the horses examined were pyrexic (had fever) with temperatures ranging from 33.8 to 40.6 degrees Celsius.
- All the horses were tachycardic (had elevated heart rate) with the median heart rate measured at 93 bpm, indicating that these horses were likely in distress.
- A majority of the horses (13 out of 16) were tachypneic (abnormally rapid breathing) and dehydrated, and presented with discolored mucous membranes.
Diagnostic Findings
- The results from analyses of the horses’ blood showed high packed cell volume levels (>45%) in 14 of the horses suggestive of dehydration or an inflammatory response.
- A majority of the horses showed leukopenic (< 5,000 cells/microL) and neutropenic conditions (less than the normal concentration of neutrophils), while 14 horses had more than 100 band neutrophils/microL, indicating the horses' bodies were fighting an infection.
- Twelve horses were shown to be acidemic (having blood pH lower than normal), suggesting a disruption in their metabolic or respiratory function.
- Out of the 16 horses, 11 were hyponatremic (low sodium concentration in blood), and 14 were hypochloremic (low chloride level in blood), highlighting significant electrolyte imbalance.
Prognosis and Death
- All the 16 horses in the study either died (31%) or were euthanized on account of a bleak prognosis.
- The median time to death was recorded at 45.5 hours from admission, underscoring the aggressive nature of necrotizing enterocolitis.
- Notably, a severe abdominal pain preceded death in 14 of the horses.
Microbiological Findings
- All horses showed low or nonexistent serum immunofluorescent antibody titers to Ehrlichia risticii, a type of bacteria that causes disease in some animals’ species.
- Four of the 16 horses had Salmonella spp. isolated from their feces or tissues, implying a possible route of infection.
In conclusion, the fatal necrotizing enterocolitis of horses was seen to exhibit a brief course, profound dehydration, major electrolyte disturbances, abnormalities in acid-base level, and severe abdominal pain shortly before death. However, the abdominal fluid analysis was not often indicative of the severity of the disease.
Cite This Article
APA
Saville WJ, Hinchcliff KW, Moore BR, Kohn CW, Reed SM, Mitten LA, Rivas LJ.
(1996).
Necrotizing enterocolitis in horses: a retrospective study.
J Vet Intern Med, 10(4), 265-270.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.1996.tb02060.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Acid-Base Equilibrium
- Animals
- Diarrhea / veterinary
- Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / mortality
- Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / physiopathology
- Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / veterinary
- Escherichia coli Infections / mortality
- Escherichia coli Infections / physiopathology
- Escherichia coli Infections / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Male
- Orchiectomy
- Physical Examination / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Salmonella Infections, Animal / mortality
- Salmonella Infections, Animal / physiopathology
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