Week 5- Investigating Equine Liver Disease

Question 1

What are the main clinical signs of hepatic insufficiency?

Answer 1

• Lethargy/ inappetence
• Weight loss
• Colic
• Photosensitisation
• Encephalopathy
• Diarrhoea
• Juandice
• Oedema
• Coagulopathy

Question 2

What are the main clinical signs of hepatic encephalopathy?

Answer 2

• Depression
• Circling
• Aimless wandering
• Headpressing
• Blindness
• Yawning
• Coma
• Bilateral laryngeal paralysis

Question 3

What is the pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy?

Answer 3

1. Neurotoxic products of gut origin
2. Disturbance in neurotransmitters
3. Increased cerebral concentrations of an endogenous
   benzodiazepine-like substance

Question 4

What are the serum biochemistry enzymes from hepatic insufficiency?

Answer 4

• Increased AP
• increased AST
• increased GGT
• increased GLDH

Question 5

What is fasciola hepatica?

Answer 5

• Rare but recognised
• Antemortem diagnosis is challenging
• Detection of fasciola eggs in faeces
• can use either corpantigen or serologic assays

Question 6

What is ultrasonography used for?

Answer 6

providing occasional diagnostic information
* identifying appropriate site(s) for biopsy
* reducing the risk of biopsy