Septic cholangitis and peritonitis in a gelding.
Abstract: An 8-year-old Arabian gelding with septic cholangitis and peritonitis was successfully treated with trimethoprim/sulfadiazine. The gelding was referred for evaluation of signs of abdominal pain, icterus, fever, and weight loss. Peritoneal fluid analysis revealed septic and suppurative peritonitis. Culture of the peritoneal fluid yielded Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which were sensitive to trimethoprim/sulfadiazine. On the basis of results of hepatic ultrasonography, a diagnosis of septic cholangitis also was made. The horse was treated with 30 mg of trimethoprim/sulfadiazine/kg, PO, q 12 h for approximately 6 weeks. The horse improved steadily, and telephone follow-up with the owner 1 year later disclosed that the horse had complete return to normal condition, appetite, and attitude. On the basis of our findings, aggressive, long-term anti-inflammatory and antibiotic treatment may result in complete return to health and normal athletic function in horses with septic cholangitis and concurrent septic peritonitis.
Publication Date: 1992-05-15 PubMed ID: 1612992
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Summary
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The research article discusses a successful treatment of an 8-year-old Arabian horse suffering from septic cholangitis and peritonitis, using a medication called trimethoprim/sulfadiazine.
Case Presentation
- The study recounts a case of an 8-year-old Arabian gelding (a castrated male horse) that showed symptoms of abdominal pain, icterus (jaundice), fever, and weight loss. This horse was referred to the researchers for a more detailed examination.
Diagnostic Procedure
- Upon examination, the peritoneal fluid analysis (fluid from the horse’s abdomen) revealed a diagnosis of septic and suppurative peritonitis, indicating an inflammation of the peritoneum (lining of the abdominal cavity) caused by bacterial infection likely from the presence of pus.
- Culture tests of the same fluid found the presence of harmful bacteria, specifically Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia. These bacteria were found to be sensitive to the medication trimethoprim/sulfadiazine, hinting that the drug might be effective in treating the bacterial infection.
- Further tests involving hepatic (liver) ultrasonography also diagnosed the horse with septic cholangitis, a bacterial infection of the bile ducts in the liver.
Treatment Details
- Given the sensitivity of the identified bacteria to the drug trimethoprim/sulfadiazine, the researchers opted to treat the horse with it.
- The horse was treated with 30 milligrams of trimethoprim/sulfadiazine per kilogram of body weight, orally, every 12 hours for a total period of approximately 6 weeks.
- Over this period, the gelding showed steady improvements in its health.
Follow-Up and Results
- A year later, on follow-up with the owner, it was reported that the horse had completely returned back to normal – in terms of its condition, appetite, and behavior.
- This suggests that the aggressive, long-term treatment with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication was successful in treating the gelding’s septic cholangitis and concurrent septic peritonitis.
Conclusion
- The study concludes by suggesting that similar aggressive, long-term treatment with appropriate antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs could result in the complete recovery of horses suffering from combined septic cholangitis and septic peritonitis.
Cite This Article
APA
Clabough DL, Duckett W.
(1992).
Septic cholangitis and peritonitis in a gelding.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 200(10), 1521-1524.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Food Animal and Equine Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cholangitis / complications
- Cholangitis / diagnosis
- Cholangitis / drug therapy
- Cholangitis / veterinary
- Escherichia coli / drug effects
- Escherichia coli / isolation & purification
- Escherichia coli Infections / diagnosis
- Escherichia coli Infections / drug therapy
- Escherichia coli Infections / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Klebsiella Infections / diagnosis
- Klebsiella Infections / drug therapy
- Klebsiella Infections / veterinary
- Klebsiella pneumoniae / drug effects
- Klebsiella pneumoniae / isolation & purification
- Liver / diagnostic imaging
- Male
- Peritonitis / diagnosis
- Peritonitis / drug therapy
- Peritonitis / etiology
- Peritonitis / veterinary
- Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / therapeutic use
- Ultrasonography
Citations
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