Granulomatous Typhlocolitis, Lymphangitis, and Lymphadenitis in a Horse Infected With Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Cyathostomes

Abstract

A 15-year-old American Quarter horse mare was euthanized because of poor response to therapy for severe diarrhea. Significant gross findings were limited to the large intestines. The walls of the cecum and colon were thickened with widely scattered nodules in the mucosa and submucosa that extended into the enlarged colic lymph nodes. Microscopically, there was severe granulomatous typhlocolitis, lymphangitis, and lymphadenitis, with many intralesional Gram-positive, non-acid-fast coccobacilli and few cyathostomes. Intralesional bacteria were immunohistochemically and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Concurrent infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium was detected by PCR and culture. Infection with L. monocytogenes in horses is rare, and coinfection with Salmonella and small strongyles probably contributed to the development of granulomatous typhlocolitis.