Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse with septicemia and peritonitis - what to know
By Patterson-Kane, J C et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2001·Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Septicemia and peritonitis due to Actinobacillus equuli infection in an adult horse.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old Saddlebred mare was found to have a serious infection called septicemia and peritonitis, which was caused by a rare bacteria known as Actinobacillus equuli. The exact source of the infection was unclear, but it was suspected that small areas of damage in her colon, possibly from a medication called phenylbutazone, might have allowed the bacteria to enter her system. In other cases of this type of infection, horses have responded well to antibiotic treatment. Because this condition can be treated, it's important for veterinarians to recognize it in horses.
Abstract
Actinobacillus equuli is a rare cause of peritonitis in adult horses. Septicemia and peritonitis due to A. equuli were diagnosed at necropsy in an 8-year-old Saddlebred mare. The origin of the infection was not known; however, small necrotic colonic mucosal lesions presumed to have been caused by phenylbutazone treatment may have allowed bacterial invasion. A good response to antimicrobial treatment has been documented in the small numbers of previously reported acute cases of peritonitis. Because it is potentially treatable, it is important for pathologists and clinicians to identify horses with A. equuli peritonitis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11280382/