The American Equestrian Association has published on its website comprehensive guidelines to assist veterinarians with clinical signs, risk factors, treatment, and considerations. Another is related to proliferative enteropathy in horses, a disease commonly seen in weaned piglets and one-year-old piglets in autumn and early winter in the North. America.
Clinical signs of EPE include anorexia, rapid weight loss, dependent edema, depression, ruffled coat, fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Approximately 5% of exposed horses will develop clinical disease and an additional 5% will develop subclinical disease, which manifests as below-normal weight gain.
Cases are most commonly seen in August to January and mainly include ponies 2 to 8 months of age, although cases have been reported in adult horses. The impact of EPE ranges from pony mortality in worst-case scenarios to economic loss in the form of treatment costs and significant reductions in the sale price of the affected horse at an early age.
EPE is caused by the bacterium Lawsonia intracellularis, which thrives in environments with low oxygen levels, such as feces. The method of transmission is unknown, although fecal-oral contact is suspected. According to the AAEP guidelines, although the bacterial medium is also unknown, it is suspected that wild animals, rodents, and domesticated or feral pigs play some role.
Uncomplicated cases of EPE have a high survival rate. Treatment includes antibiotic therapy and supportive care, such as intravenous fluids. A standard duration of treatment, based on the antibiotic chosen, is usually sufficient. Affected horses should be isolated for seven days after starting treatment to ensure complete cessation of shedding.
The guidelines were co-authored by Dr. Allen Page, scientist/veterinarian at the University of Kentucky’s Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, and Dr. Rebecca Ruby, assistant professor at The Laboratory University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostics. The guidelines were reviewed and approved by the AAEP Communicable Diseases Committee and board of directors.
“Proliferative enteropathy in horses continues to be a problem for the equine industry,” says Page. “With these new AAEP guidelines, Dr. Ruby and I hope the information will help veterinarians appropriately diagnose and treat this unusual disease.”
Access the equine proliferative enteropathy guide
AAEP Guide Library on Infectious Diseases in Horses
This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.
