Equine Colic

Question 1

Diarrhea is the increase in ______, ________, and _________ of bowel movements.

Answer 1

fluid, frequency, volume

Question 2

What is the mechanism by which Rotavirus causes diarrhea in the horse?

Answer 2

-loss of villi tips in the small intestine results in malabsorption

Question 3

How does bacterial endotoxins cause increased secretion in the intestines resulting in diarrhea in the horse?

Answer 3

-activate secondary intracellular systems

Question 4

Can a change in transient time or motility result in diarrhea?

Answer 4

Yes

Question 5

Iatrogenic causes, such as epsom salts, and grain overload can result in what mechanism causing diarrhea?

Answer 5

osmotic overload

Question 6

How is increased hydraulic/hydrostatic pressure related to diarrhea in the horse?

Answer 6

colon may be damaged from parasites, for instance, so there is increased hydrostatic pressure in the colon wall which makes it more difficult to absorb fluids

Question 7

What is the #1 cause of diarrhea in the horse?

Answer 7

idiopathic!

Question 8

What two species of Salmonella are most commonly causing pathology in the horse? Which subspecies causes 60% of the cases?

Answer 8

-S. enterica, S. bongori

Question 9

What are the verious O-antigens associated with S. enterica subsp. enterica? Which one is most common in the horse?

Answer 9

-A, B, C1, C2, D,E

Question 10

What is the most common Salmonella serotype associated with horses with colitis?

Answer 10

S. Typhimurium

Question 11

What is the gold standard diagnostic for Salmonella infections? What other test is more sensitive?

Answer 11

-gold standard- culture

Question 12

What are some problems with culturing Salmonella?

Answer 12

-need proper enrichments

Question 13

How is Salmonella transmitted?

Answer 13

fecal-oral

Question 14

What are the mechanisms causing diarrhea with Salmonella infections?

Answer 14

-secretory- enterotoxin

Question 15

What are the “three hallmarks of Salmonella”? Which of these may not always be present?

Answer 15

-fever

Question 16

Which of these disease syndromes can be caused by Salmonella?

Answer 16

E

Question 17

What would not be expected on the bloodwork of a horse with Salmonella infection?

Answer 17

E

Question 18

Which of these labratory results would you expect to be low with low total protein?

Answer 18

A

Question 19

How many fecal cultures should be taken if you suspect Salmonella is the infectious cause of disease?

Answer 19

3-5, preferrably 5

Question 20

What is the etiological agent of Potomac Horse Fever?

Answer 20

Neorickettsia risticii

Question 21

What are some clinical signs seen with PHF?

Answer 21

-anorexia/fever

Question 22

What % of PHF cases develop laminitis?

Answer 22

20-30%

Question 23

What would you expect to find on CBC initially with PHF? What about later in the dz?

Answer 23

initially- neutropenia/ left shift

Question 24

What is the drug often used to treat PHF?

Answer 24

oxytetracycline for 3-5 days

Question 25

What are some options for fluid administration in horses with diarrhea?

Answer 25

-plain water

Question 26

what electrolytes might you need to supplement with fluid administration?

Answer 26

-hyponatremia

Question 27

What can you administer to help with the hypoproteinemia in your patient?

Answer 27

-Plasma

Question 28

What are some general treatments for patients with endotoxemia?

Answer 28

-NSAID