Equine Top 5 - Foal Diarrhea Flashcards
how old are foals that are affected with clostridiosis?
less than 5 days old & definitely less than 10 days old
what is the classic case presentation of a foal with clostridiosis?
acute hemorrhagic diarrhea, colic, severe obtundation, hypovolemic/septic shock, & often rapidly fatal
what is the etiology of clostridiosis in foals?
c. perfringens type c (less commonly type a)
what clostridal agent can be found in the intestines/feces of healthy foals & adult horses?
c. difficile
how is clostridiosis diagnosed in a foal?
fecal toxin analysis - PCR for c. perfringens & ELISA for c. perfringens/c. difficile
what is seen on abdominal ultrasound of a foal with clostridiosis?
necrotizing enterocolitis, thickened bowel with gas in the wall
what is seen on necropsy of a foal with clostridiosis?
intraluminal hemorrhage & mucosal necrosis of small intestines +/- colon
how is clostridosis in foals prevented?
improve farm hygiene
T/F: clostridiosis in foals can occur sporadically or in outbreaks
TRUE
what is the prognosis for a foal with clostridiosis?
guarded
what treatment is used for clostridiosis?
metronidazole PO or per rectum & supportive care
what treatment is used for all foals with diarrhea?
supportive care - broad spectrum antibiotics to decrease the risk of bacterial translocation/sepsis, IV fluids with electrolytes, correct failure of passive transfer if present, NSAIDS, anti-endotoxemics (polymixin b & hyperimmune plasma), intestinal absorbents, enteral/parenteral feeding, & +/- lactase administration PO
how old are foals that are usually affected with salmonellosis?
usually under 1 month old
what is the classic case presentation of a foal with salmonellosis?
diarrhea, lethargy, poor nursing, sepsis, progressive to hypovolemic shock with cool limbs, thready pulse, & recumbency
what is the etiology of salmonellosis in foals?
most often salmonella enterica
how is salmonellosis diagnosed in foals?
fecal PCR or culture
why is it important to consider that healthy horses can have salmonella present in their feces?
stress can increase fecal shedding & it is ZOONOTIC!!
how is salmonellosis in foals treated?
supportive care
what is seen on a CBC of a foal with salmonellosis?
severe neutropenia
how old are foals that are often affected by rotavirus/coronavirus?
foals under 2 months of age
what is the classic case presentation of a foal with rotavirus/coronavirus?
depression, anorexia, profuse watery malodorous diarrhea that is more severe in younger foals - self-limiting, lasts 4-7 days
how is rotavirus/coronavirus diagnosed in foals?
fecal immunoassay kit & fecal electron microscopy
how long does rotavirus last in foals?
4-7 days
which is more common in foals: rotavirus or coronavirus?
rotavirus is more common
what is the pathogenesis of rotavirus in foals?
destroys enterocytes at tips of the small intestinal villi leading to malabsorption often causing a secondary lactase deficiency
how is rotavirus prevented in foals?
use the rotavirus vaccine in pregnant mares
what pathogen causes proliferative enteropathy in foals?
lawsonia intracellularis
how old are foals that are usually affected by proliferative enteropathy?
4-6 month old foals
what is the classic case presentation of a foal with proliferative enteropathy?
poor doer/failure to thrive, weight loss, diarrhea, pot belly, colic, & ventral abdominal subcutaneous edema
how is proliferative enteropathy in a foal diagnosed?
usually both a fecal PCR & serology IFAT (can be hard to differentiate exposure from disease with 1 time sample)
what is seen on abdominal ultrasound of a foal with proliferative enteropathy?
thickened small intestines
what is seen on necropsy of a foal that had proliferative enteropathy?
silver stain shows characteristic intracellular bacteria in small intestinal tissue
how long does it take for a foal to recover from proliferative enteropathy?
4-8 weeks for full recovery
proliferative enteropathy causes what type of disease in foals?
protein losing enteropathy
what is the etiology of proliferative enteropathy?
intracellular bacteria lawsonia intracellularis - won’t grow in culture without permissive cell lines & lipophilic or amphoteric antimicrobials are required
what is seen on bloodwork from a foal with proliferative enteropathy?
marked hypoproteinemia
what is the prognosis for a foal with proliferative enteropathy?
excellent prognosis with recovery
how is proliferative enteropathy in a foal treated?
antimicrobials using tetracyclines, erythomycin, or chloramphenicol & plasma transfusion if severely hypoproteinemic
how old are foals that are affected by foal heat?
4 to 10 day old foals
what is the classic case presentation of a foal with foal heat?
foal with mild diarrhea that is NOT MALODOROUS with no other clinical signs
how is foal heat diagnosed?
usually none - rule out other causes if necessary
how is foal heat treated?
usually no treatment - apply protectant (zinc oxide or vasoline) around perineum & on the hind limbs
is foal heat related to the mare’s heat cycle?
nope - seen in orphan foals
what is the suspected pathogenesis of foal heat?
most likely due to changes in foal’s gi flora as they start eating grain/hay in addition to milk and as they are copraphagic to inoculate their gi tract
