Weight loss- hepatic causes

Question 1

What is the most common cause of acute hepatitis in horses

Answer 1

Theiler disease or serum associated hepatitis

Question 2

List 4 hepatic diseases that can cause weight loss

Answer 2

Theilers disease
Ragwort poisoning
Cholangiohepatitis
Cholelitiasis

Question 3

when does weight loss occur if due to hepatic failure

Answer 3

when more than 75% of the liver is damaged

Question 4

What causes Theilers disease

Answer 4

Thought to be Associated with equine blood products:
Equine parvovirus (evidence of association) and equine hepacivirus (not ruled out as cause yet)

Question 5

what does ragwort contain that causes the hepatic disease

Answer 5

pyrralozidine alkaloid toxin

Question 6

when do clinical signs hepatic failure due to ragwort poisoning occur

Answer 6

after 1-12 months of ingestion

Question 7

what causes cholangiohepatitis

Answer 7

ascending bacterial infection - can be caused by Salmonella, Klebsiella, E.coli and others
OR
Sepsis - systemic spread into the liver

Question 8

what is cholelithiasis

Answer 8

obstruction of the biliary ducts due to stone formation within them

Question 9

what causes Cholelithiasis

Answer 9

aetiology is unknown- bacterial infection is a component of the disease