ABSTRACT
Duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) is an idiopathic and potentially fatal disease of horses characterized by abdominal pain, proximal intestinal inflammation, and subsequent gastric and small intestinal fluid accumulation. Although this disease is known to be costly and life threatening in the equine industry, the severity of clinical signs can vary widely, and an exact etiology has yet to be elucidated. This study looked to identify differences in clinical parameters of horses with DPJ between geographic regions in an effort to corroborate anecdotal reports and support theories of differing etiologies. Case records were compared from veterinary academic referral hospitals in three different geographic locations in the United States to determine if significant differences in clinical, clinicopathologic, and prognostic characteristics exist among horses with DPJ. Clinical measurements on presentation that were significantly different between regions included heart rate, peritoneal total protein, albumin, anion gap, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, sodium, chloride, potassium, and creatinine. Duration of hospitalization and maximum body temperature while hospitalized were also different between regions. There were no significant differences in peritoneal cell count, total white blood cell count, neutrophil count, band neutrophils, calcium, total plasma protein, temperature on presentation, duration of reflux, total reflux volume, or age between hospitals. The mortality rates between hospitals were not significantly different. Increased severity of clinical signs and biochemical abnormalities were identified in the Southeastern United States hospital compared with the Northeastern and Western hospitals. A prospective, multicenter case-control study could identify risk factors contributing toward regional differences in this disease in the future.
Subject(s)
Duodenitis , Horse Diseases , Jejunal Diseases , Animals , Case-Control Studies , Duodenitis/epidemiology , Duodenitis/veterinary , Horse Diseases/epidemiology , Horses , Jejunal Diseases/veterinary , Prospective Studies , Southeastern United States , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Medical records of 26 horses admitted to the Veterinary Hospital of FMVZ-USP from December 1996 to November 2000 with duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) were reviewed. From 1555 horses examined during this period, 205 (13.2%) had shown gastro-intestinal problems and 1.7% of the total had DPJ. Ages, physical parameters, laboratory values and clinical course were compared among surviving horses DPJ (group 1) and horses not surviving DPJ (group 2). Twenty (76.9%) of 26 horses survived. All horses were managed with medical treatment only. The results were analysed through Student test (alpha=0.05). Significative differences between the two groups were observed for white blood cell counts (WBC), serum creatinine and heart rate. Laminitis was the most common complication and occurred in 30.8% of the cases.
Os dados de 26 eqüinos com duodeno-jejunite proximal (DJP), examinados no HOVET-FMVZ-USP entre dezembro de 1996 e novembro de 2000, foram revisados. Durante esse período, foram atendidos 1555 animais, dos quais 205 apresentavam distúrbios gastrintestinais (13,2%). Os casos de DJP representaram 1,7% do total de eqüinos atendidos. A idade, os achados clínico-laboratoriais e a evolução clínica foram comparados entre eqüinos sobreviventes (grupo 1) e eqüinos não sobreviventes (grupo 2). Vinte eqüinos (76,9%) sobreviveram. Todos os animais foram submetidos exclusivamente a tratamento médico. A análise dos resultados foi feita através de comparação entre médias pelo teste t de Student com significância de 5%. Houve diferença significativa entre os dois grupos em relação aos seguintes parâmetros analisados: contagem total de leucócitos no sangue, creatinina sérica e freqüência cardíaca. A principal complicação nos animais recuperados foi laminite (30,8%).
ABSTRACT
Medical records of 26 horses admitted to the Veterinary Hospital of FMVZ-USP from December 1996 to November 2000 with duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) were reviewed. From 1555 horses examined during this period, 205 (13.2%) had shown gastro-intestinal problems and 1.7% of the total had DPJ. Ages, physical parameters, laboratory values and clinical course were compared among surviving horses DPJ (group 1) and horses not surviving DPJ (group 2). Twenty (76.9%) of 26 horses survived. All horses were managed with medical treatment only. The results were analysed through Student test (alpha=0.05). Significative differences between the two groups were observed for white blood cell counts (WBC), serum creatinine and heart rate. Laminitis was the most common complication and occurred in 30.8% of the cases.
Os dados de 26 eqüinos com duodeno-jejunite proximal (DJP), examinados no HOVET-FMVZ-USP entre dezembro de 1996 e novembro de 2000, foram revisados. Durante esse período, foram atendidos 1555 animais, dos quais 205 apresentavam distúrbios gastrintestinais (13,2%). Os casos de DJP representaram 1,7% do total de eqüinos atendidos. A idade, os achados clínico-laboratoriais e a evolução clínica foram comparados entre eqüinos sobreviventes (grupo 1) e eqüinos não sobreviventes (grupo 2). Vinte eqüinos (76,9%) sobreviveram. Todos os animais foram submetidos exclusivamente a tratamento médico. A análise dos resultados foi feita através de comparação entre médias pelo teste t de Student com significância de 5%. Houve diferença significativa entre os dois grupos em relação aos seguintes parâmetros analisados: contagem total de leucócitos no sangue, creatinina sérica e freqüência cardíaca. A principal complicação nos animais recuperados foi laminite (30,8%).