Enterocolitis associated with Clostridium perfringens infection in neonatal foals: 54 cases (1988-1997).
OBJECTIVE
To identify clinical signs, physical examination findings, results of diagnostic tests, treatments administered, and clinical outcome of neonatal foals with enterocolitis associated with Clostridium perfringens infection.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
54 neonatal foals.


RESULTS
Most foals had acute onset of obtunded mentation, colic, or diarrhea and developed leukopenia, neutropenia, an abnormally high number of band neutrophils, toxic WBC, and hypoproteinemia within 24 hours after admission, despite high serum IgG concentrations (> 800 mg/dl). Abdominocentesis and abdominal radiography of some foals revealed exudative peritonitis and gaseous distention of the small and large intestine, respectively. Cytologic examination of feces revealed spores or gram-positive rods in 8 of 10 foals. The most common genotypes of C perfringens isolates were type A and C, alone or in combination. Treatment did not alter mortality rate for most foals that had a positive culture for C perfringens type C. Of 54 foals, 29 (54%) that had C perfringens-associated enterocolitis died. Foals that had a culture that yielded C perfringens had higher sepsis scores, IgG concentrations, and mortality rates, compared with the overall hospital population of neonatal foals.


CONCLUSIONS
Foals less than 7 days old that have enterocolitis associated with C perfringens infections, especially type C, have a guarded prognosis. Cytologic examination of feces to determine spore counts and detect rods may be a means for early identification of C perfringens infections. Polymerase chain reaction assays to determine genotype are important for designing preventive treatment regimens.
East
L M
LM
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523, USA.
Savage
C J
CJ
Traub-Dargatz
J L
JL
Dickinson
C E
CE
Ellis
R P
RP
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004760:Enterocolitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005838:Genotype; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006736:Horses; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents