Intestinal spirochetosis in a 21-month-old thoroughbred colt.
A 21-month-old Thoroughbred colt showed continuous diarrhea and developmental retardation for 7 months, and was thereafter subjected to euthanasia for necropsy and laboratory examinations. At necropsy, the cecal and colonic mucosae were diffusely rough and hyperemic. Histopathologically, the mucosa and submucosa were edematous and were infiltrated by numerous lymphocytes and macrophages. Meanwhile, three morphological types of Brachyspira antigen-containing spirochetes were found to be numerous in the crypts and in the mucus layer over the epithelium in the cecal and colonic lesions. They were frequently observed in intercellular gaps and in the cytoplasm of degenerative epithelial cells, and in the lamina propria, particularly in cavities around blood vessels. These invasive intestinal spirochetes might be one of pathogens inducing colitis and diarrhea in horses.
Hokkaido Research Station, National Institute of Animal Health, 4 Hitsujigaoka, Toyohira, Sapporo, Hokkaido 062-0045, Japan.
Tomoyuki
T
Shibahara
Atsutoshi
A
Kuwano
Takanori
T
Ueno
Toru
T
Anzai
Yasushi
Y
Kuwamoto
Hiroaki
H
Sato
Taiji
T
Maeda
Yoshiharu
Y
Ishikawa
Koichi
K
Kadota
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses / Q000382:microbiology; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D013144:Spirochaetales / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013145:Spirochaetales Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*