Hepatobiliary diseases of the horse

Question 1

This is the most common cause of acute hepatitis and hepatic failure in horses

Answer 1

Acute serum hepatitis

Question 2

This disease is associated with the administration of tetanus antitoxin

Answer 2

Acute serum hepatitis

Question 3

What are the necropsy findings in the pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicosis?

Answer 3

Fibrosis
Megolocytosis
Bile duct proliferation

Question 4

Where the horses can find the pyrrolizidine alkaloid?

Answer 4

It is caused by repeated consumption of fresh or dried plant material

Senecio
Crotalaria
Heliotropium

Question 5

Theiler’s disease or acute serum hepatitis can cause horses with …

Answer 5

Severe icterus, photosensitization, hepatoencephalopathy, pica, anorexia

Question 6

These are the findings in the necropsy of a horse with chronic active hepatitis

Answer 6

Varying degrees of fibrosis in the portal area and the hepatocytes may appear normal.

Question 7

Treatment for Acute Serum Hepatitis and Prognosis

Answer 7

Fluid therapy
Dextrose supplementation
Anti-inflammatory therapy
Nutritional support
Control of the hepatoencephalopathy

Favorable if there are no severe signs of encephalopathy, poor if the signs are present.

Question 8

This is the treatment for chronic active hepatitis

Answer 8

Corticosteroids
Supportive care
Fluid theraphy
Antibiotics if bacterial cholangitis presents.

Question 9

Explain the pathophysiology of the Pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicity

Answer 9

Toxin - GI - liver - metabolized by hepatocytes to pyrroles - hepatocytes can’t divide and form megalocytes (large cells).

These MEGALOCYTES died and the area was replaced by connective and fibrous tissue

Question 10

Clinical signs for a patient with pyrrolizidine toxicosis

Answer 10

Wight loss
Icterus
Photosensitization