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Septic peritonitis in a Percheron mare associated with Clostridium haemolyticum
Author(s) -
HepworthWarren K. L.,
Hay Kraus B. L.,
Wong D. M.,
Krull A. C.,
Metcalf G. L.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
equine veterinary education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 2042-3292
pISSN - 0957-7734
DOI - 10.1111/eve.12531
Subject(s) - medicine , horse , peritonitis , peritoneal fluid , gastroenterology , pathology , biology , paleontology
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.