Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
hepatitis in a horse: case report and literature review.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc
- Year:
- 2025
- Authors:
- Macías-Rioseco, Melissa et al.
- Affiliation:
- School of Veterinary Medicine · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old male horse, known as a gelding, developed severe liver disease caused by a specific type of bacteria. Over the course of a week, he lost weight and became weak before he could no longer stand and sadly passed away. When examined, his liver showed signs of damage, and there were unusual changes in his intestines as well. Tests confirmed the presence of the bacteria in his liver. Unfortunately, despite the findings, the treatment options for this condition were not successful, leading to a tragic outcome.
Abstract
spp. can cause gastroenteritis, hepatitis, bacteremia, and abortions in domestic animals and humans. Somespp. are zoonotic. To our knowledge, hepatitis caused byhas not been reported in horses. Here we present a case of acute necrosuppurative hepatitis caused byinfection in a 3-y-old gelding, and we review the literature oninfections in various animal species. The horse had a one-week history of weight loss and weakness before becoming recumbent and dying. Grossly, the liver had rounded edges and was mottled. There were ecchymoses on the gastric serosa, and a large amount of mucoid, pale, green-to-yellow content adhered to the mucosa of the small and large intestines. Microscopically, random areas in the liver were necrotic and infiltrated by large numbers of neutrophils, and fewer lymphocytes and plasma cells. Other changes in the liver included neutrophilic cholangitis with bile duct hyperplasia in portal areas, canalicular cholestasis, and mild portal fibrosis. The lamina propria, and occasionally the submucosa, of the small intestine and colon was infiltrated by large numbers of lymphocytes and plasma cells, and there was multifocal crypt necrosis.was recovered in pure culture from the liver.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39966692/