Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Clostridium septicum septicemia in a neonatal foal with hemorrhagic enteritis.
- Journal:
- The Cornell veterinarian
- Year:
- 1993
- Authors:
- Jones, S L & Wilson, W D
- Affiliation:
- Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 3-day-old foal was diagnosed with a serious infection caused by Clostridium septicum, which was found in its blood. The foal had severe intestinal bleeding and showed signs of a widespread infection. It was treated successfully with fluids, antibiotics, plasma, and medications to protect its stomach. Although the foal seemed to recover completely after a month, it was later euthanized due to a sudden severe belly pain caused by serious intestinal complications related to its earlier condition. This case highlights the importance of specific blood tests for foals showing signs of infection and the need to monitor for inflammation in the abdomen when they have intestinal bleeding.
Abstract
Clostridium septicum was isolated by anaerobic culture of blood collected from a 3-day-old foal with hemorrhagic enteritis and signs suggestive of septicemia. The foal responded well to treatment with intravenous fluids, antibiotics, plasma, and oral gastrointestinal protectants. One month after apparent complete recovery from the septicemia and hemorrhagic enteritis, the foal was euthanized during an acute episode of colic that was caused by severe, strangulating intestinal adhesions, thought to have formed as a result of peritonitis secondary to the hemorrhagic enteritis. The value of anaerobic culture of blood in foals with signs suggestive of septicemia is emphasized by the case presented here, as is the importance of evaluating the presence and extent of peritoneal inflammation in foals with hemorrhagic enteritis. To our knowledge, Clostridium septicum has not previously been reported to cause septicemia in neonatal foals.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8467700/