Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Four cases of Tyzzer's disease in foals in England.
- Journal:
- Equine veterinary journal
- Year:
- 1976
- Authors:
- Whitwell, K E
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In England, four young foals, all between 24 and 34 days old, were found to have a serious illness called Tyzzer's disease, caused by a bacteria known as Bacillus piliformis. This bacteria can lead to severe liver damage and has been recognized as a problem in foals since 1973 in the United States. In these cases, the bacteria was also linked to heart issues, which is a new finding for horses. It's thought that the mothers of these foals might carry the bacteria without showing symptoms themselves. Overall, the situation highlights the differences in how this disease affects mice compared to foals, likely due to different care practices for each species.
Abstract
A rodent pathogen, Bacillus piliformis, has been recognised as causing a rapidly fatal hepatitis in 4 foals in England. The disease in foals has been recognised in America since 1973. A clinico-pathological account of the 4 cases is given and the differential diagnosis discussed. The 4 foals' ages fell within a very narrow range (24-34 days). Some of the properties of this unusual intracellular pathogen are reviewed. For the first time in the equine the bacillus was seen in association with myocardial lesions. There are marked differences in the epidemiology of the disease in the mouse and in the foal, which may result from the very different management practices in the 2 species. It is suggested that the dams of affected foals may be carriers of the disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/954720/