Diarrhoea

Question 1

Define diarrhoea

Answer 1

Increased volume, frequency or fluidity of faeces

Question 2

Define Melaena

Answer 2

dark, tarry faeces

Question 3

Define Dyschezia

Answer 3

Difficulty or painful defecation

Question 4

Define Haematochezia

Answer 4

Fresh blood in stool

Question 5

Define Tenesmus

Answer 5

Ineffectual straining

Question 6

What is the time period of acute to chronic diarrhoea? How would you treat them differently?

Answer 6

More than 3 weeks - Acute treat symptoms, Chronic investigation

Question 7

In small animals, what are the major indicators that it is diarrhoea of the small intestine?

Answer 7

Volume - weight loss - general condition

Question 8

In small animals, what are the major indicators that it is diarrhoea of the large intestine?

Answer 8

Mucous - frequency - tenesmus - dyschezia

Question 9

What are the differential diagnosis of a small animal with acute small intestinal diarrhoea with systemic signs?

Answer 9

Bacterial (salmonella, campylobacter) - Viral (dystemper, parvovirosis, panleukopenia) - Toxins - Haemorrhagic gastroenteritis - Acute panreatitis

Question 10

What are the differential diagnosis of a small animal with acute large intestinal diarrhoea?

Answer 10

Whipworms - Clostridia - Giardia - Campylobacter

Question 11

What are the 6 investigations that can be carried out to investigate chronic diarrhoea?

Answer 11

1- Faecal exam (bacteria and parasites)
2- Haematology/Biochemistry (renal and hepatic failure)
3- Serum tests (pancreas function)
4- Abdominal ultrasound (lesion)
5- Elimination diet
6- Biopsies (endoscopy/exploratory laparotomy)

Question 12

Which is a more preferable biopsy, endoscopy or exploratory laparotomy?

Answer 12

Endoscopy - less invasive, direct visualisation of mucosa, less expensive, lower mortality

Question 13

What is the most common chronic enteropathy in dogs? What is the treatment?

Answer 13

Infectious Bowel Disease (IBD) - Elimination diet

Question 14

What are the three main factors involved in farm animal diarrhoea?

Answer 14

Pathogens - Calf factors (immunity, stress) - Environment and management

Question 15

Name the pathogens that can cause diarrhoea in calves

Answer 15

E.coli - Rotavirus - Coronavirus - Cryptosporidium - Salmonella - Coccidiosis

Question 16

What strains of E. coli cause enteric disease? Where does it colonise?

Answer 16

ETEC (enterotoxigenic) - small intestine

Question 17

What two factors does an ETEC E.coli require to be pathogenic?

Answer 17

Adhesive fimbrae (O and K antigens) - Enterotoxin (heat labile and heat stable)

Question 18

Describe how the a) labile (LT) and b) stable (ST) enterotoxins produced by ETEC E.coli work

Answer 18

a) attaches to brush border, converting Gs to Gs-ADP-R, increase of cAMP, increase Cl- production, loss of Na+ and water
b) raises intracellular guanylate cyclase (short lived toxic action)

Question 19

What E. coli strain is zoonotic? What does it pass from?

Answer 19

STEC - from calves meat

Question 20

Calves affected by _____ are 1-3 weeks old, it has a high _______ but low ______. It affects the ______ and ______

Answer 20

Rotavirus - Morbidity - Mortality - Duodenum and Jejunum

Question 21

Coronavirus affects the ____, _____ and ____ of slightly older calves

Answer 21

Ileum - Caecum - Colon

Question 22

_____ is an important enteric bacteria in zoonotic disease. It causes ____ illness and _____

Answer 22

Salmonella - Systemic - Pyrexia

Question 23

In older weaned calves ______ may give _____ stained faeces

Answer 23

Coccidiosis - Blood

Question 24

What are the causes of diarrhoea in growing cows?

Answer 24

Endoparasites - Rumen acidosis - Salmonella - Nutritional problems - Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV rarely causes diarrhoea)

Question 25

What normally causes diarrhoea in adult cows?

Answer 25

Johne’s Disease (MAP) - Sub Acute Rumen Acidosis (SARA) - Salmonella - Nutritional problems (eg winter dysentry)

Question 26

What causes Johne’s Disease? Why is it significant for cattle and humans?

Answer 26

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) - Untreatable so have to be culled - May be involved in Crohn’s disease (zoonosis)

Question 27

What procedures can control the spread of MAP?

Answer 27

Keeping calves separate from infected adult species/ colostrum - Avoid pooled colostrum - Identify subclinical infected adults

Question 28

Why is diagnosis of MAP difficult?

Answer 28

Low sensitivity but high specificity (only positive result is reliable)