Clinical Data Suggested Proliferative Enteropathy-Free Horses in Saudi Arabia

Ghanem Al-Ghamdi

doi:10.21608/eajbsg.2012.16659

Abstract

Proliferative enteropathy (PE) is a recently described disease of horses that is characterized by signs of elevated body temperature, weight loss, diarrhea and death. This disease is caused by Lawsonia intracellularis. The goal of this study was to determine if horses in Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia were clinically affected with L. intracellularis. Total of 246 foals less than two years old were examined. The foals were observed for signs of proliferative enteropathy such as colic, diarrhea, emaciation and edema in the lower parts of the body leading to death. Results recorded 10 foals; with signs of colic (2 foals) and emaciation (8 foals) however none of the animals was reported to die through one year follow up. Further parasitic testing detected Parascaris equorum, Dictyocaulus arnfieldi and Strongyle infection in these horses. Chemistry profile showed that foals total protein and albumin were within the normal limits. These findings suggest that horses in Saudi Arabia remain proliferative enteropathy free however specific testing including PCR and serology are recommended.

Highlights

The Proliferative Enteropathy (PE) of horses is a newly recognized enteric disease that affects -on most occasions- the weanling animals (Williams et el 1996)
The aim of this study is to examine horses in Saudi Arabia for the presence of proliferative enteropathy using clinical evaluation
Clinical evaluation of 246 foals residing 26 farms that were younger than two years of age for signs suggestive of proliferative enteropathy (PE) including colic (2), diarrhea (10) and emaciation (8) with a total of 10 affected animals

Summary

Introduction

The Proliferative Enteropathy (PE) of horses is a newly recognized enteric disease that affects -on most occasions- the weanling animals (Williams et el 1996). Several animal species mainly swine have been reported with PE including horses (Lawson and Gebhart 2000). When PE was described in horses for the first time; Campylobacter spp was thought to be the causative agent (Duhamel and Wheeldon 1982). When the second equine case was reported, the causative agent, Lawsonia intracellularis, has been well characterized in pigs. Immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody to the porcine L. intracellularis was used successfully to diagnose Lawsonia antigen (Williams et al.1996). Lawsonia intracellularis is an obligatory intracellular, gram negative, curved organism. The bacterium takes the acid fast (Ziehl Neelsen stains) but does not form spores (McOrist et al 1995)

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