Equine Enterocolitis

Enterocolitis (inflammation of the small and large intestine ie. caecum and colon) is an acute and severe disease of horses associated with high mortality, despite therapeutic interventions. Due to the extensive size of their caecum and colon, horses are more severely affected by colitis than species without an extensive hind-gut. Although progress has been made in identifying the causes of acute colitis in horses, some 60% of cases in horses have no known cause. Epidemiological studies conducted around the world have confirmed that acute, severe colitis in horses is a worldwide phenomenon, without restriction to a specific geographical region.

A factor complicating the etiological studies of equine colitis is the presence of multiple potential pathogens. There are a number of infectious and non-infectious causes for this condition. Infectious agents include Clostridium difficile, C. perfringens, larval cyathostomiasis, Neorickettsia risticii and Salmonella spp. Studies have shown that among these infectious agents, C. difficile, Salmonella and possibly C. perfringens are major contributors in acute equine colitis.

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