Abstract
Background: Tyzzer's disease is a rapidly progressive and highly fatal hepatitis of foals caused by Clostridium piliforme. Survival of a confirmed case has not been reported previously. Hypothesis: Successful therapy of C piliforme infection in foals is possible. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used to diagnose Tyzzer's disease antemortem or postmortem. Animals: Seven foals were included in the study. Methods: Retrospective study was made to evaluate the clinical and pathologic characteristics of foals with Tyzzer's disease. Medical records of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at University of California Davis were reviewed. Foals <3 months old were included in the study if typical clinical signs were present and histologic examination identified multifocal coagulative necrosis and hepatitis with intracytoplasmic filamentous bacilli, consistent with C piliforme. A real-time TaqMan assay was developed to detect C piliforme gene sequences in liver tissue from affected foals. Results: Median survival time from onset of disease in nonsurviving foals was 30 hours (mean 34.5 ± 20.1; range, 16-62 hours). Common clinical findings included lethargy, recumbency, seizures, and fever. Laboratory findings included metabolic acidosis, hypoglycemia and increased activity of hepatobiliary enzymes. Treatment consisted of IV fluids, antimicrobial and antiinflammatory drugs, and parenteral nutrition. One filly survived, whereas 6 died. Postmortem examination of the 6 foals that died disclosed hepatomegaly with multifocal necrosis. Liver tissue from 4 foals was positive for C piliforme gene sequences using PCR. Conclusions and clinical importance: Although the mortality rate of Tyzzer's disease is high, successful outcome is possible if intensive care is initiated promptly. PCR can be used for early and specific diagnosis.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1212-1218 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 2006 |
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Keywords
- Clostridium piliforme infection
- Horse
- PCR
- Sepsis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- veterinary(all)
Cite this
Successful treatment and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmation of Tyzzer's disease in a foal and clinical and pathologic characteristics of 6 additional foals (1986-2005). / Borchers, Angela; Magdesian, K G; Halland, Spring; Pusterla, Nicola; Wilson, William D.
In: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Vol. 20, No. 5, 09.2006, p. 1212-1218.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Successful treatment and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmation of Tyzzer's disease in a foal and clinical and pathologic characteristics of 6 additional foals (1986-2005)
AU - Borchers, Angela
AU - Magdesian, K G
AU - Halland, Spring
AU - Pusterla, Nicola
AU - Wilson, William D
PY - 2006/9
Y1 - 2006/9
N2 - Background: Tyzzer's disease is a rapidly progressive and highly fatal hepatitis of foals caused by Clostridium piliforme. Survival of a confirmed case has not been reported previously. Hypothesis: Successful therapy of C piliforme infection in foals is possible. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used to diagnose Tyzzer's disease antemortem or postmortem. Animals: Seven foals were included in the study. Methods: Retrospective study was made to evaluate the clinical and pathologic characteristics of foals with Tyzzer's disease. Medical records of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at University of California Davis were reviewed. Foals <3 months old were included in the study if typical clinical signs were present and histologic examination identified multifocal coagulative necrosis and hepatitis with intracytoplasmic filamentous bacilli, consistent with C piliforme. A real-time TaqMan assay was developed to detect C piliforme gene sequences in liver tissue from affected foals. Results: Median survival time from onset of disease in nonsurviving foals was 30 hours (mean 34.5 ± 20.1; range, 16-62 hours). Common clinical findings included lethargy, recumbency, seizures, and fever. Laboratory findings included metabolic acidosis, hypoglycemia and increased activity of hepatobiliary enzymes. Treatment consisted of IV fluids, antimicrobial and antiinflammatory drugs, and parenteral nutrition. One filly survived, whereas 6 died. Postmortem examination of the 6 foals that died disclosed hepatomegaly with multifocal necrosis. Liver tissue from 4 foals was positive for C piliforme gene sequences using PCR. Conclusions and clinical importance: Although the mortality rate of Tyzzer's disease is high, successful outcome is possible if intensive care is initiated promptly. PCR can be used for early and specific diagnosis.
AB - Background: Tyzzer's disease is a rapidly progressive and highly fatal hepatitis of foals caused by Clostridium piliforme. Survival of a confirmed case has not been reported previously. Hypothesis: Successful therapy of C piliforme infection in foals is possible. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used to diagnose Tyzzer's disease antemortem or postmortem. Animals: Seven foals were included in the study. Methods: Retrospective study was made to evaluate the clinical and pathologic characteristics of foals with Tyzzer's disease. Medical records of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at University of California Davis were reviewed. Foals <3 months old were included in the study if typical clinical signs were present and histologic examination identified multifocal coagulative necrosis and hepatitis with intracytoplasmic filamentous bacilli, consistent with C piliforme. A real-time TaqMan assay was developed to detect C piliforme gene sequences in liver tissue from affected foals. Results: Median survival time from onset of disease in nonsurviving foals was 30 hours (mean 34.5 ± 20.1; range, 16-62 hours). Common clinical findings included lethargy, recumbency, seizures, and fever. Laboratory findings included metabolic acidosis, hypoglycemia and increased activity of hepatobiliary enzymes. Treatment consisted of IV fluids, antimicrobial and antiinflammatory drugs, and parenteral nutrition. One filly survived, whereas 6 died. Postmortem examination of the 6 foals that died disclosed hepatomegaly with multifocal necrosis. Liver tissue from 4 foals was positive for C piliforme gene sequences using PCR. Conclusions and clinical importance: Although the mortality rate of Tyzzer's disease is high, successful outcome is possible if intensive care is initiated promptly. PCR can be used for early and specific diagnosis.
KW - Clostridium piliforme infection
KW - Horse
KW - PCR
KW - Sepsis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33750337049&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33750337049&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1892/0891-6640(2006)20[1212:STAPCR]2.0.CO;2
DO - 10.1892/0891-6640(2006)20[1212:STAPCR]2.0.CO;2
M3 - Article
C2 - 17063719
AN - SCOPUS:33750337049
VL - 20
SP - 1212
EP - 1218
JO - Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
JF - Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
SN - 0891-6640
IS - 5
ER -