Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Foals with severe diarrhea and dehydration - what to know about
By Sims, L D et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·1985·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Haemorrhagic necrotising enteritis in foals associated with Clostridium perfringens.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Two young Thoroughbred foals, one 35 hours old and the other 48 hours old, sadly died a few hours after showing signs of being very tired, having severe bloody diarrhea, and becoming dehydrated. Both foals had a serious intestinal condition where parts of their intestines were damaged and bleeding, which was linked to a type of bacteria called Clostridium perfringens. This bacteria was found in their intestines and was identified as a specific type known as type C. There were also other cases of diarrhea in foals of the same age at the same farms, but the cause of those was not identified. Unfortunately, the treatment did not save the foals.
Abstract
Two foals aged 35 and 48 h from 2 Thoroughbred studs died several hours after developing clinical signs of depression, severe haemorrhagic diarrhoea and dehydration. Both foals had an acute haemorrhagic enteritis extending from the anterior jejunum to the terminal ileum which was characterised histologically by villus necrosis. Necrotic villi were surrounded by large numbers of rod-shaped Gram positive bacteria. Clostridium perfringens was recovered from the intestines of both foals and the isolates were considered to be C. perfringens type C. Other cases of diarrhoea were also observed in foals of the same age on these 2 studs, but the aetiology of these was not determined.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2865948/