Colitis X

• Sudden onset with haemorrhages throughout body (shock) and sometimes acute foul smelling diarhoea.
• colon is acutely haemorhagic and oedematous with mucosal necrosis.
• Associated with Clostridium perfringens.
• Possibly an enterotoxaemia.

Description

Colitis X (so-called due to its unknown aetiology) is a peracute and highly fatal disease of horses. A number of possible underlying causes have been described, including drug or parasite hypersensitivity, salmonellosis, high-protein low-cellulose diets and clostridial enterocolitis.

References

• Glenn Songer, J., Trinh, H.T., Dial, S.M., Brazier, J.S., Glock, R.D. (2009) Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 21:377–380 (2009)

• White, N.A., Edwards, G.B. (1999) Handbook of Equine Colic Reed Educational and Professional Publishing Ltd

• Knottenbelt, D.C. A Handbook of Equine Medicine for Final Year Students University of Liverpool

• Edward Robinson, N and Sprayberry, K. A. (2009) Current Therapy In Equine Medicine Sixth edition Saunders Elsevier

• Merck & Co (2008) The Merck Veterinary Manual (Eighth Edition) Merial

• Giles, C.J., Urquhart, K.A. and Longstaffe, J.A. (1985) Larval cyathostomiasis (immature trichonema-induced enteropathy): A report of 15 clinical cases Equine Veterinary Journal 17, 196-201

• Murphy, D., Keane, M.P. and Goulding, R. (1997) Cyathostome associated disease in the horse: investigation and management of four cases Equine Veterinary Journal 9 247-252