Lawsonia Intracellularis Flashcards
What animal was lawsonia intracellularis described in before horses?
swine
What type of bacteria is it?
obligate intracellular bacteria
When was the disease isolated and identified?
mid 1990s (newer)
What does the disease produce?
a lot of proliferative enteropathy (multiplies endothelial cells)
Where is the disease found?
worldwide (causes disease in many species)
What is the source of infection in foals?
not yet identified
(possibly deer, foxes, wolves, etc.)
Can lawsonia intracellularis transmit between species?
it has been experimentally demonstrated so it can happen
How is it transmitted?
fecal-oral transmission
What age does the disease generally infect?
younger ages (3-13 months)
What does it mean that lawsonia intracellularis is an emergent disease?
that cases are rising
What does the severity of the disease depend on?
-depends on the load of bacteria ingested
-immune status of the horse
What is the process of the infection?
-bacteria invades dividing intestinal cells
-infected cells continue to divide even if heavily infection
-develops as a progressive proliferation of immature epithelial cells, invaded with intracellular bacteria
What do lesions reduce?
intestinal digestive and absorptive capabilities (leads to diarrhea and weight loss)
The cells are multiply but…
not working correctly
Clinical signs of lawsonia intracellularis:
-depression
-fever
-anorexia
-weight loss
-diarrhea
-colic
-poor body condition
-rough coat
-pot-bellied
-dull