(B5) Common Infectious Disorders of the Alimentary Tract of Horses

what causes Potomac Horse Fever (Potomac Horse Fever)

Neorickettsia risticii bacteria (formerly ) is a Gram-, obligate, intracellular bacterium

what does it infect (2) (Potomac Horse Fever)

1. enterocytes of the small and large intestine

2. monocytes in the blood.

how long can it incubate for (range) (Potomac Horse Fever)

10 - 18 days

is it contagious (Potomac Horse Fever)

Not contagious

clinical signs (13) (Potomac Horse Fever)

1. Depression

2. lethargy

3. loss of appetite

4. fever

5. Diarrhe

6. Purple mucous membranes

7. Colic signs

8. WBC count falls initially, then rises within a few days of onset

9. gut movement may stop

10. severe toxemia

11. death

12. Laminitis

13. abortion

how to diagnose (6) (Potomac Horse Fever)

1. Clinical signs

2. History

3. Leukopenia

4. leukocytosis

5. Cell culture / PCR of blood and feces

6. Serological testing

how to treat (4)

1. Oral fluids

2. IV fluids

3. Oxytetracycline IV

4. NSAIDs

how to prevent (Potomac Horse Fever)

vaccine

what causes it (8) (Equine Viral Hepatitis)

1. Acute Viral Liver Disease

2. Bacterial

3. Parasitic

4. Many plants can be hepatotoxic

5. Biliary Obstruction Cholelithiasis

6. liver lobe torsion

7. large colon displacement

8. parasitic obstruction of the bile duct

Acute Viral Liver Disease aka (3) (Equine Viral Hepatitis)

1. Theiler’s Disease

2. Idiopathic Liver Disease

3. Serum Sickness

define Biliary Obstruction Cholelithiasis (Equine Viral Hepatitis)

buildup of calculi in the biliary tract

clinical signs (Equine Viral Hepatitis)

1. Anorexia

2. colic

3. Depression

4. Jaundice

5. Weight loss

6. Photosensitivity

7. Diarrhea

8. constipation

9. Abnormal bleeding or clotting

10. Neurological signs

how to diagnose (6) (Equine Viral Hepatitis)

1. Clinical signs

2. History

3. increased white blood cell counts

4. elevated liver enzymes- ALT/AKLP

5. Ultrasound imaging

6. Liver biopsy

how to treat (Equine Viral Hepatitis)

supportive care

how to prevent (3) (Equine Viral Hepatitis)

1. Keeping horse calm and in dark area

2. Proper nutrition

3. usage of smaller, frequent meals.

how is it spread (Salmonellosis)

feces

what are stressors (7) (Salmonellosis)

1. adverse weather conditions

2. transportation (erratic feeding schedule)

3. recent surgery

4. antibiotic therapy

5. imminent foaling

6. heavy parasite load

7. overcrowding

clinical signs (8ish) (Salmonellosis)

1. Diarrhea

2. may see bloody diarreah

3. may be foul-smelling feces

4. Febrile

5. May localize in brain, joints, and lungs

6. Can see peracute, acute, or chronic problems

7. Bright red/toxic mucous membranes

8. Lethargy

how to diagnose (Salmonellosis)

1. Severe leukopenia

2. neutropenia

3. degenerative left shift

4. Fecal culture is not very accurate with S. typhimurium in horses

5. Sometimes a small rectal biopsy is taken for culture in enriched media

6. PCR testing of manure or blood gives fast and accurate results

define Febrile (Salmonellosis)

"related to fever" or "feverish"

how to treat (5) (Salmonellosis)

1. Fluids

2. Antibacterial drugs

3. NSAIDs

4. Antidiarrheal

5. GI protectant

how to prevent (2) (Salmonellosis)

1. Isolate infected horses

2. Sanitation

is there a vaccine (Salmonellosis)

no