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Home / Equine Research Bank / Can Vet J / Tyzzer’s disease in foals: retrospective studies from ...
The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2013; 54(9); 876-880;

Tyzzer’s disease in foals: retrospective studies from 1969 to 2010.

Abstract: Reports of 148 cases of Tyzzer's disease in foals in central Kentucky were analyzed to identify features of the disease and factors associated with it. The records indicate that Tyzzer's disease is a rapidly progressive, highly fatal hepatitis caused by Clostridium piliforme. Common clinical findings are lethargy, fever, anorexia, and icterus. Seizures, coma, and death may rapidly ensue. Laboratory findings are leukopenia, metabolic acidosis, hypoglycemia, and increased activity of hepatic enzymes. Diagnosis is primarily based on clinical signs and postmortem findings but a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is now available to detect C. piliforme DNA in organs and feces. Disease occurred most frequently in foals between 9 and 30 days of age that were born in April to May and was associated with heavy rainfall in the spring and high protein and nitrogenous diets fed to nursing mares. The findings are consistent with the ingestion of C. piliforme in the feces of adult horses and overgrowth in the intestine of foals with a high level of nutrients in their intestine. Maladie de Tyzzer chez les poulains : études rétrospectives de 1969 à 2010. Des rapports de 148 cas de la maladie de Tyzzer chez les poulains dans le centre du Kentucky ont été analysés pour identifier les caractéristiques de la maladie et les facteurs qui y sont associés. Les dossiers indiquent que la maladie de Tyzzer est une hépatite rapidement progressive et hautement mortelle causée par Clostridium piliforme. Les résultats cliniques fréquents sont la léthargie, la fièvre, l’anorexie et l’ictère. Des crises d’épilepsie, le coma et la mort peuvent rapidement survenir. Les résultats de laboratoire sont la leucopénie, l’acidose métabolique, l’hypoglycémie et une activité accrue des enzymes hépatiques. Le diagnostic se base principalement sur les signes cliniques et les résultats post mortem, mais une réaction d’amplification en chaîne par la polymérase (ACP) est maintenant disponible pour détecter l’ADN de C. piliforme dans les organes et les fèces. La maladie se produit le plus fréquemment chez les poulains âgés d’entre 9 et 30 jours qui sont nés en avril et en mai et elle a été associée à des pluies abondantes au printemps et à des diètes à teneur élevée en protéines et en azote données aux juments allaitantes. Les résultats sont conformes avec l’ingestion de C. piliforme dans les fèces des chevaux adultes et à la prolifération dans l’intestin des poulains ayant un niveau élevé de nutriments dans leur intestin.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).
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Publication Date: 2013-10-25 PubMed ID: 24155494PubMed Central: PMC3743575
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Summary

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This research analyzes data from 148 cases of Tyzzer’s disease in foals in central Kentucky, to understand characteristics of this highly fatal disease and factors associated with it. Findings suggest disease frequency is highest in 9-30 day-old foals born in spring, after heavy rainfall, and can be linked to high protein and nitrogenous diets fed to nursing mares.

Understanding Tyzzer’s Disease

  • Tyzzer’s disease is an acute, highly fatal hepatitis in foals that is caused by the bacterium Clostridium piliforme.
  • Its symptoms include lethargy, fever, icterus (jaundice), and anorexia. It can rapidly progress to seizures, coma, and death in severe cases.
  • Diagnostic lab findings typically include leukopenia (a decrease in the number of white blood cells), metabolic acidosis (a condition that occurs when the body produces excessive quantities of acid or when the kidneys are not removing enough acid from the body), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and an increased activity of hepatic enzymes.
  • The definitive diagnosis of Tyzzer’s disease involves identifying the bacterium Clostridium piliforme in feces or organs through a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This is a diagnostic test that is able to detect the presence of the bacterial DNA.

The Frequency and Associated factors of Tyzzer’s disease

  • Incidents of Tyzzer’s disease were found to be most common in foals aged between 9 to 30 days old.
  • There is a reported seasonal pattern to disease occurrences, with the majority of cases developing in foals born in April and May. This could be tied with the fact that disease outbreaks were observed to coincide with heavy spring rainfall.
  • High protein and nitrogenous diets fed to nursing mares were identified as a significant factor linked to disease prevalence. This dietary condition may lead to an increase in nutrient levels inside the foal’s intestines, which could potentially encourage the overgrowth of Clostridium piliforme.

Understanding Clostridium piliforme

  • Clostridium piliforme, the bacterium causing Tyzzer’s disease, can be ingested by foals from the feces of adult horses.
  • Conditions inside the intestines of foals, such as high nutrient levels resulting from the mares’ diet, might be conducive to the growth and multiplication of these bacteria, leading to disease onset.

Cite This Article

APA
Swerczek TW. (2013). Tyzzer’s disease in foals: retrospective studies from 1969 to 2010. Can Vet J, 54(9), 876-880.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 9
Pages: 876-880

Researcher Affiliations

Swerczek, Thomas W
  • Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Clostridium / classification
  • Clostridium Infections / epidemiology
  • Clostridium Infections / pathology
  • Clostridium Infections / veterinary
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Female
  • Hepatitis, Animal / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis, Animal / microbiology
  • Hepatitis, Animal / pathology
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses
  • Kentucky / epidemiology
  • Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Rain
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors

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