Abstract
Clostridium difficile is commonly associated with diarrhea and colitis in humans and other mammals, including horses. To this date, the epidemiologic, microbiologic, clinical, and diagnostic aspects of C. difficile-associated disease (CDAD) in horses have been thoroughly described. However, reports describing the enteric pathology of this disease in horses are limited. This study presents a comprehensive description of the pathologic characteristics of CDAD in 21 horses and discusses the criteria for the diagnosis of the disease. Case selection was based on C. difficile A/B toxins detection (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in intestinal content samples accompanied by compatible gross and microscopic enteric lesions. Grossly, multifocal, segmental, or diffuse hemorrhage; congestion; and/or marked gelatinous edema of the intestinal wall with abundant bloody or green watery contents were observed. Histologically, the most common lesion was severe necrotizing or necrohemorrhagic enteritis, colitis, or typhlocolitis, with mucosal and/or submucosal thrombosis and marked submucosal edema. The pathology of CDAD in horses is similar to that caused by other equine enteric pathogens; therefore, a definitive diagnosis requires detection of C. difficile A/B toxins in the intestinal contents.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1028-1036 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Veterinary Pathology |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2013 |
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Keywords
- Clostridium difficile
- colitis
- enteritis
- enterotoxemia
- equine
- pathology
- toxins
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- veterinary(all)
Cite this
Pathology and Diagnostic Criteria of Clostridium difficile Enteric Infection in Horses. / Diab, Santiago S; Rodriguez-Bertos, A.; Uzal, Francisco A.
In: Veterinary Pathology, Vol. 50, No. 6, 11.2013, p. 1028-1036.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Pathology and Diagnostic Criteria of Clostridium difficile Enteric Infection in Horses
AU - Diab, Santiago S
AU - Rodriguez-Bertos, A.
AU - Uzal, Francisco A
PY - 2013/11
Y1 - 2013/11
N2 - Clostridium difficile is commonly associated with diarrhea and colitis in humans and other mammals, including horses. To this date, the epidemiologic, microbiologic, clinical, and diagnostic aspects of C. difficile-associated disease (CDAD) in horses have been thoroughly described. However, reports describing the enteric pathology of this disease in horses are limited. This study presents a comprehensive description of the pathologic characteristics of CDAD in 21 horses and discusses the criteria for the diagnosis of the disease. Case selection was based on C. difficile A/B toxins detection (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in intestinal content samples accompanied by compatible gross and microscopic enteric lesions. Grossly, multifocal, segmental, or diffuse hemorrhage; congestion; and/or marked gelatinous edema of the intestinal wall with abundant bloody or green watery contents were observed. Histologically, the most common lesion was severe necrotizing or necrohemorrhagic enteritis, colitis, or typhlocolitis, with mucosal and/or submucosal thrombosis and marked submucosal edema. The pathology of CDAD in horses is similar to that caused by other equine enteric pathogens; therefore, a definitive diagnosis requires detection of C. difficile A/B toxins in the intestinal contents.
AB - Clostridium difficile is commonly associated with diarrhea and colitis in humans and other mammals, including horses. To this date, the epidemiologic, microbiologic, clinical, and diagnostic aspects of C. difficile-associated disease (CDAD) in horses have been thoroughly described. However, reports describing the enteric pathology of this disease in horses are limited. This study presents a comprehensive description of the pathologic characteristics of CDAD in 21 horses and discusses the criteria for the diagnosis of the disease. Case selection was based on C. difficile A/B toxins detection (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in intestinal content samples accompanied by compatible gross and microscopic enteric lesions. Grossly, multifocal, segmental, or diffuse hemorrhage; congestion; and/or marked gelatinous edema of the intestinal wall with abundant bloody or green watery contents were observed. Histologically, the most common lesion was severe necrotizing or necrohemorrhagic enteritis, colitis, or typhlocolitis, with mucosal and/or submucosal thrombosis and marked submucosal edema. The pathology of CDAD in horses is similar to that caused by other equine enteric pathogens; therefore, a definitive diagnosis requires detection of C. difficile A/B toxins in the intestinal contents.
KW - Clostridium difficile
KW - colitis
KW - enteritis
KW - enterotoxemia
KW - equine
KW - pathology
KW - toxins
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84887533308&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84887533308&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0300985813489039
DO - 10.1177/0300985813489039
M3 - Article
C2 - 23686768
AN - SCOPUS:84887533308
VL - 50
SP - 1028
EP - 1036
JO - Veterinary Pathology
JF - Veterinary Pathology
SN - 0300-9858
IS - 6
ER -