Small and Large Intestinal Disease Flashcards
Describe the locations of the most severe lesions in DPJ
- duodenum and proximal jejunum
- may extend proximally to gastric mucosa and aborally to LI mucosa and submucosa
Describe the microscopic lesions associated with DPJ
- varying degrees of mucosal and submucosal hyperaemia with oedema
- more severe lesions include villous degeneration with necrosis and more severely, sloughing of villous epithelium
- lamina propria, mucosa and submucosa may have varying degrees of granulocyte infiltration (predominantly neutrophils)
- muscular layers and serosal surfaces contain small haemorrhages
- proximal SI serosal fibrinopurulent exudate is common finding in more severe cases
- can have evidence of multiple organ involvement - can have hepatic changes including hepatocellular vacuolization, cholestasis, inflammatory infiltrate and biliary hyperplasia
Describe the possible mechanisms of development of hepatic disease in DPJ?
- ascending infection by way of the common bile duct
- local absorption of endotoxin via portal circulation
- systemic consequences of endotoxin absorption
- metabolic imbalances such as acidaemia
- hypoperfusion or hypovolaemia
Which infectious agents have been proposed to play a role in DPJ?
- Salmonella spp. (although Salmonellosis not consistently identified in majority of cases)
- Clostridium spp.
- Fusarium spp.
List possible predisposing factors for DPJ
- recent dietary change with abrupt increase in dietary concentrate - may cause intraluminal microbial imbalances
Name the two intracellular processes that control intestinal secretion.
- cyclic nucleotide (cAMP & CGMP) system
- calcium system
List the common clinical pathology findings in peritoneal fluid of horses with DPJ
- protein concentration higher than in horses with SI obstruction (often > 3.5g/dL)
- mild to moderate increase in WCC (usually < 10000/microliter)
- disproportionate increase in total protein concentration relative to TNCC - probably by leakage of blood or plasma into peritoneal cavity without significant stimulus for leukocyte chemotaxis
- usually yellow and turbid - in severe cases, diapedesis can occur, resulting in serosanguinous colour
Discuss the suggested mechanisms for increased abdominal fluid protein concentration in DPJ
- serositis associated with inflamed intestine
- SI distension causing passive congestion and increased capillary hydrostatic pressure of visceral peritoneal vessels
Discuss the pathophysiology and predisposing factors for development of ileus in DPJ
- involves primary and secondary dysfunction of the central, autonomic and enteric nervous systems
- peritoneal inflammation
- inflammatory cell migration/activation within the muscularis
- SI mechanical distension
- endotoxin absorption
Describe the difference in clinical signs between DPJ and SI obstructive lesions
- signs of acute abdominal pain typically subside after gastric decompression - then display lethargy, general malaise
- degree of SI distension on rectal exam is less, particularly following gastric decompression
- colour and odour of gastric reflux can be similar but horses with DPJ tend to have larger volume (>4-20L with each decompressive effort)
- temperature often 38.6 - 39.1
- brick-red mm, lethargy, decreased to absent gut sounds, prolonged CRT, tachycardia, tachypnoea
Describe the haematology and biochemical abnormalities in horses with DPJ
- normal, decreased or increased WCC
- abnormalities in leukogram more common than in horses with SI obstructive lesions
- increased PCV and TPP reflective of volume depletion
- biochemical changes: hyponatraemia, hypochloraemia, hypokalaemia, prerenal azotaemia, elevated liver enzymes (GGT, AST, ALP)
- metabolic acidosis with high anion gap - loss of enteric bicarbonate through evacuation of gastric reflux and hyperlactataemia from poor tissue perfusion and hypovolaemia
Describe the ultrasonographic findings in DPJ
- gastric distension
- duodenal distension
- segments of SI containing hypoechoic to anechoic fluid
- wall of SI can be normal or thickened with time
- peristalsis decreased, normal or increased
Define malabsoprtion
The impairment of digestive and absorptive processes arising from functional or structural disorders of the SI and related organs, including the pancreas, liver and biliary tract
List the carbohydrate absorption tests used for the diagnosis of IBD in horses
1) oral glucose tolerance test - 1g/kg glucose administered as 20% solution via NGT following overnight fast (14-16hrs)
- blood glucose measured at 30min intervals for 180mins; then at 60min intervals until 360mins
- max plasma glucose level (> 85% baseline) reached by 120mins in healthy horses
- 15-85% baseline = partial malabsorption
- < 15% baseline = total malabsorption
- abnormal OGTT result and weight loss can occur in horse as a transient event and without significant morphologic changes in SI
- immediate dietary history, gastric emptying rate, intestinal transit, age and hormonal effects influence glucose peak and curve shape
- prolonged fasting results in delayed and slightly lower peak
- also affected by content of NSC and fat in diet and other disorders such as PSSM
2) D-Xylose absorption test
- 0.5g/kg D-xylose administered as 10% solution via NGT
- same fasting and blood collection as OGTT
- peak plasma D-xylose b/w 20-25mg/dL b/w 60-90 mins
- not confounded by hormonal effects or mucosal metabolism
- altered by diet, length of fasting and age, gastric emptying rate, intestinal motility, intraluminal bacterial overgrowth and renal clearance
- abnormal tests likely indicates abnormal mucosal SA or permeability
Discuss the features of lactase deficiency in foals
- secondary lactase deficiency can occur when a SI disorder damages epithelial cells, resulting in decreased brush border disaccharidase activity
- typically rotavirus
- also reported secondary to clostridial enteritis in foals
- can perform oral lactose tolerance test - 1g/kg lactose monohydrate as 20% solution via NGT; same blood sampling as OGTT; plasma glucose typically peaks 1hr after lactose administration (range 30-90mins) with mean increase of 77mg/dL
Discuss the findings on diagnostic workup in horses with alimentary lymphosarcoma
- anaemia, thrombocytopenia, neutrophilia or neutropenia, hypoalbuminaemia with hyperglobulinaemia with normal or elevated serum protein
- rectal palpation may reveal intra-abdominal masses, mainly enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes
- abdominocentesis and rectal biopsy not sensitive indicators of disease
- carbohydrate absorption tests: partial to total malabsorption indicative of the severely reduced SA resulting from significant villous atrophy and extensive mucosal or transmural infiltration
- early confirmation necessitates ex lap to obtain multiple intestinal and LN biopises
List the disorders associated with MEED (multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease)
- chronic eosinophilic gastroenteritis
- eosinophilic granulomatosis
- chronic eosinophilic dermatitis
- basophilic enterocolitis
- MEED encompasses disorders characterised by predominant eosinophilic infiltrate in the GIT, associated LN, liver, pancreas, skin and other structures
- accompanied by some degree of malabsorption and enteric protein loss (diarrhoea common)
- liver and pancreatic involvement —–> maldigestion may contribute to wasting disease