Hemorrhagic necrotizing enterocolitis associated with Clostridium difficile infection in four foals.
Severe hemorrhagic necrotizing enterocolitis was determined to be the cause of death for 4 foals. Toxigenic Clostridium difficile was isolated form the intestine of each foal, and large, gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria lined the surface of necrotic villi. This finding of toxigenic C difficile associated with enteritis in foals adds another possible cause to the list of infectious agents that should be considered when evaluating foals with enteritis. Definitive diagnosis requires a thorough diagnostic evaluation, including procedures that will identify the organism and demonstrate its toxigenicity.
Jones
R L
RL
Diagnostic Laboratories, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523.
Adney
W S
WS
Alexander
A F
AF
Shideler
R K
RK
Traub-Dargatz
J L
JL
D000818:Animals; D003013:Clostridium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D007583:Jejunum / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male