Septic peritonitis in a Percheron mare associated with Clostridium haemolyticum

Summary This report describes an 11‐year‐old Percheron mare that presented with signs of colic and was ultimately diagnosed with bacterial peritonitis of unknown origin. Bacterial culture of a peritoneal fluid sample isolated 2 Clostridial species, one of which was strongly suspected to be Clostridi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Equine veterinary education 2017-11, Vol.29 (11), p.603-608
Main Authors: Hepworth‐Warren, K. L., Hay Kraus, B. L., Wong, D. M., Krull, A. C., Metcalf, G. L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteria
Clostridium haemolyticum
Colic
Edema
horse
Horses
Hydroxyethyl starch
hypoalbuminaemia
ileus
Low molecular weights
Molecular weight
oncotic pressure
Peritoneal fluid
Peritoneum
Peritonitis
Starch
tetrastarch
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Summary:Summary This report describes an 11‐year‐old Percheron mare that presented with signs of colic and was ultimately diagnosed with bacterial peritonitis of unknown origin. Bacterial culture of a peritoneal fluid sample isolated 2 Clostridial species, one of which was strongly suspected to be Clostridium haemolyticum. The horse was markedly hypoalbuminaemic at presentation, leading to the development of low oncotic pressure and ventral oedema. The mare was administered a low molecular weight/low molar substitution hydroxyethyl starch solution in conjunction with other therapies that resulted in marked improvement of clinical signs. The purpose of this report is to describe the clinical findings associated with equine peritonitis associated with C. haemolyticum, a rarely identified pathogen in the horse. Secondly, this report serves to describe the beneficial effects of tetrastarch administration in a clinical case with severe hypoalbuminaemia and ventral oedema.
ISSN:0957-7734
2042-3292
DOI:10.1111/eve.12531