title: Distal aortic aneurysm presumed to be secondary to an infected umbilical artery in a foal.
abstract: METHODS
  A 3-month-old female Warmblood foal was presented after displaying signs of colic with pyrexia for 5 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The foal continued to show signs of colic, frequently passed urine, and was pyrexic with an elevated white blood cell count. The umbilical stalk was thickened but there was no evidence of purulent material. Exploratory laparotomy revealed an enlarged left umbilical artery remnant tightly adhered to the bladder wall. The left umbilical artery continued to an aneurysm involving the distal aorta. The foal was subject to euthanasia and post-mortem examination confirmed a spherical aortic aneurysm, in the dorsal midline caudal to the kidneys that contained a large thrombus. Histopathological examination revealed inflammation and necrosis of the tunica intima and tunica media of the left umbilical artery with suppuration and bacterial colonies evident in the periarterial tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infected aortic aneurysm presumably caused by an umbilical artery infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A previously undetected umbilical infection appears to have resulted in an unusual delayed complication causing signs of colic in a foal. Veterinarians should be aware of this condition, and the possibility that it may be a cause of signs of colic in foals. Diagnosis based on ultrasonography should be possible, but may require sedation, visceral analgesia and careful examination.
authors.affiliation: Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand. m.archer@massey.ac.nz
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Archer
authors.forename: S J G
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Carslake
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Collett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006736:Horses; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000473:pathology*