Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Veterinary Equines Finals > Diarrhoea > Flashcards

Diarrhoea Flashcards

Whe, DD's, tests, diagnosis, treatment (47 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

DD’s for Diarrhoea in nursing foals

A

Rotavirus

Necrotizing enterocolitis

Salmonellosis

Enterotoxigenic E. coli

Cryptosporidium

Lactose intolerence

“Foal heat” diarrhoea

Gastric ulcers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

DD’s for diarrhoea in weanlings and yearlings

A

Lawsonia intracellularis

Rhodococcus equi enterocolitis

Parasitism

Gastric ulcers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Non-infectious DD’s for diarrhoea in horses

A

Foal heat diarrhoea

Mechanical enterocolitis (pica)

Dietary (milk replacer intolorence, lactase def)

Necrotizing enterocolitis

Gastric ulcers

Peripartum asphyxia associated (hypoxic-ischaemic disease, dystocia, premature placental separation)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Infectious DD’s for diarrhoea in horses

A

C. difficile

C. perfringens

Salmonellosis

Enterotoxigenic E.coli

Rotavirus

Adenovirus (esp in SCID foals)

Cryptosporidium parvum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Most likely doagnosis:

Foal has watery diarrhoea but upon inspection is afebrile, still hydrated with a normal mentation and appetite

A

Foal heat diarrhoea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

When is the most likely time to see foal heat diarrhoea?

A

Between 5 - 15 days of age

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Cause of foal heat diarrhoea

A

Maturational changes of the GI tract:

between days 5 - 15

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Cause of asphyxia-associated gastroenteropathies:

A

Hypoxic insult to the GI tract = hypoperfusion

  • unbilical cord compression
  • dystocia
  • red bag delivery
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Cause of necrotizing enterocolitis

A

Unknown: Necrotizing insult to the GI

  • Associated with prematurity or hypoxia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Cause of mechanical enterocolitis:

A

Ingestion fo sand, dirt, bedding, the mare’s tail hair =

Mechanical irritation fo the GI mucosa

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Cause of dietary intolorence diarrhoea:

A

Feeding milk replacers

Lactase defficiency

  • Associated with loss of brush border of SI: C. difficile & Rotavirus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Cause of Clostridial enteritis (diarrhoea)

A

Clostridium difficile / perfringens

  • Both can be primary pathogens to foals without preceding risk factors
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Common finding with Selmonellosis causing diarrhoea

A

Bacteraemia & Sepsis is commonwith GI tract Salmonellosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Enterotoxigenic strains of E. coli can cause:

A

Bacteraemia & diarrhoea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How does Rotavirus cause diarrhoea in foals

A

Rotavirus affects SI

  • Blunts the microvilli (lactase defficiency) = maldigestion & malabsorption
  • Decreased absorption and increased secretion = diarrhoea
  • Loss of lactase = osmotic component: allows lactose into colon
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

When does Crytposporidium parvum mainly cause diarrhoea in foals

A

In immune compromised foals:

  • Esp. SCID foals

(severe combined immunodeficiency)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Initial databse for foals with diarrhoea

A

CBC

Lactate

Serum biochemical profile

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Thought direction:

Foal with diarrhoea:

CBC - leukopania or leukocytosis

A

Most likely an infectious cause of diarrhoea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Thought direction:

Foal with diarrhoea:
CBC is normal

Study These Flashcards
A

Foal heat diarrhoea

20
Q

T/F: A normal CBC in a horse / foal with diarrhoea rules out an infectious cause of diarrhoea

21
Q

Thought direction:
Horse / foal with diarrhoea:

Lactate reading above 2.0 mmol/L indicates

Study These Flashcards
A

Hypovolaemia

Dehydration

Sepsis

22
Q

Tought direction:

Foal with diarrhoea:

Serum biochemical profile normal

Study These Flashcards
A

Foal heat diarrhoea

23
Q

Though direction:

Foal / Horse with diarrhoea:

Possible Serum biochemical profile changes

Study These Flashcards
A
  1. Electrolyte derangement: Metabolic acidosis: GI losses
  2. Azotemia: Prerenal in dehydration
  3. Hypoglycaemia: Decreased milk ingestion and increased glucose consumption with sepsis
24
Q

Possibly confirmatory tests for diagnosing diarrhoea in foals

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Fecal cuture (aerobic & anaerobic)
  • Fecal smear & gram staining
  • PCR for C. perfringens toxin
  • Immunoassay for C. perfringens toxin
  • Immunoassay / electron microscopy for Rotavirus
  • Acid-fast stain / Immunoassay / Electron microscopy for Cryptosporidium parvum
25
**Therapeutic goals in foal diarrhoea**
* Maintain hydration * Maintain adequate organ system perfusion * Normalize acid-base balance * Normalize electrolytes * Provide nutrition * Prevent sepsis * Direct treatment of causative agent
26
**Definition of chronic diarrhoea**
Persistent or intermittent diarrhoea of at least 1 month duration
27
## Footnote **DD's for chronic diarrhoea**
* Partial large colon obstruction: enterolith * Sand enteropathy * Infectious cause: parasite / salmonella * Colonic fibrosis due to previous severe acute colitis * Primary infiltrative / inflammatory intestinal disease * Abnormal fermentative function of intestinal flora * Gastroduodenal ulcers in foals * Rotavirus in foals * Hepatic disease * Congestive heart failure
28
## Footnote **How does partial obstruction of the large colon cause diarrhoe?`**
A neterolith or intraluminal neoplasia = irritate the colonic mucosa & intermittently partially obstruct colonic lumen = only softer feces can pass around the obstruction
29
## Footnote **How can sand enteropathy cause chronic diarrhoea**
Sand irritates and inflames the colonic mucosa
30
## Footnote **How do parasites , salmonella and rotavirus cause chronic diarrhoea in foals (general)**
Damages the colonic mucosa and cuase chronic inflammation of the colonic mucosa
31
## Footnote **How can a primary infiltrative / inflammatory intestinal disease cause chronic diarrhoea**
It impairs the normal absorptive capacity of the colonic mucosa
32
## Footnote **How does colonic fibrosis cause chronic diarrhoea**
It also impairs the normal absorptive ability of the colonic mucosa
33
**How does gastroduodenul ulcers in foals cause chronic diarrhoea**
GDUD alters the absorptive ability of the SI which may overwhelm the colonic absorptive capacity in the less mature colon of a foal
34
**How can systemic diseases like hepatic disease and congestive heart failure result in chronic diarrhoea**
It may cause portal hypertension, altering the fluid dynamics in the colonic vasculature and impairing water aborption
35
## Footnote **What to consider during a diarrhoea work-up**
CBC Serum biochemistry profile Transabdominal US Abdominocentesis
36
## Footnote **Expected findings during a diarrhoea work-up**
**CBC:** Normal OR show evidence of chronic inflammation: leukocytosis, mild aneamia, hyperfibrinogenemia **Serum biochemistry profile:** Metabolic acidosis - bicarbonate losses Electrolyte derangement: Hypo-kalemia / -natremia / -chloremia / -calcemia TSP - elevated due to hyperglobulinemia = chronic inflammation TSP - decreased = enteric protein loss (hypoalbuniemia) Liver function - SDH (sorbitol dehydrogenase), GGT, Serum bile acid concentration **Abdominal US:** Fluid in colon / cecum Mural thickness increase (\>5mm) for colon & SI **Abdominocentesis:** Normal OR increased nucleated cell count and proteins: consistent with intestinal inflammation
37
## Footnote **List possible definitive diagnostic techniques for chronic diarrhoea in horses**
* Sand enteropathy - abdominal radiographs * Parasites - faecal floats and sedimentations * Salmonella - Serial fecal PCR / culture * GDUD - Gastroduodenoscopy * If weight loss, hypoalbuminemia, intestinal mural thickening - D-Glucose / D-xylose absorption test * Exploratory celiotomy if all above are negative or inconclusive
38
## Footnote **Acute general treatment for chronic diarrhoea if a specific etiology is determined**
Parasites - deworming Laxatives - sand enteropathy Enrofloxacin (5mg/kg IV Q24) - Salmonella Immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids - IBD Surgical removal of an enterolith Surgical resection of focal intestinal neoplasia Gastroprotectants for GDUD in foals
39
## Footnote **Acute general treatment for chronic diarrhoea if no specific cause was determined**
Presumptive deworming Transfaunation - help correct the intestinal flora Diet change - alter colonic flora and VFA production
40
## Footnote **What are the risk factors for clostridial diarrhoea**
Treatment with antimicrobial agents - C. difficile
41
**History:** **Pyrexic horse with inappetence and acute diarrhoea (diarrhoea appears to be intermittently bloody), moderate amount of gastric reflux with SI distension on rectal palpation** **Most likely DD's**
Colitis Proximal enteritis Clostridial diarrhoa
42
## Footnote **Which Clostridium is most likely to cause diarrhoea and why**
C. difficile Produces two toxins - Type A (enterotoxin) - Type B (cytotoxin) Also associated with antimicrobial-associated colitis in adults
43
## Footnote **Risk factors for clostridial diarrhoea**
Use of antimicrobials - C. difficile overgrowth Ingestion of organisms or spores from the environment
44
## Footnote **How do clostridial toxins cause diarrhoea?**
Clostridial toxins directly damage enterocytes = inflammation and necrosis of colonic epithelial cells = damages the mucosal barrier = systemic exposure to the toxins & loss of fluids, electrolytes and plasma proteins into the intestinal lumen
45
## Footnote **Acute general treatment of clostridial diarrhoea**
* Fluid therapy * Anti-inflammatory & Antiendotoxic (Flunixin meglumine) * Antimicrobial: Metronidazole @ 15 - 25 mg/kg PO Q8 (Vancomycin if the Clostridia is resistant to metronidazole) * Biosponge - bind clostridial toxins in vitro
46
## Footnote **Acute general treatment of diarrhoea in a neonatal foal**
* **Fluid therapy**: Bolus 10-20mL/kg over 20 minutes - maintenance @ 2-6 ml/kg/h * Correct metabolic acidosis (caused by hyperlactatemia due to hypoperfusion) * Treat hyperchloremia with sodium bicarbonate * **Antimicrobial therapy** - metronidazole if clostridial
47
## Footnote **Recommended monitoring of a foal being treated for diarrhoea**
PCV / TP Blood glucose (decreased intake and increase use esp in sespsis) Lactate (hypoperfusion / dehydration) Electrolytes Gases (Metabolic acidosis) USG Therapeutic drug monitoring for foals on aminoglycosides

Veterinary Equines Finals (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions