Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Enteric dysganglionosis resembling intestinal neuronal dysplasia in a foal with bacterial colitis.
- Journal:
- Veterinary pathology
- Year:
- 2010
- Authors:
- Giri, D K et al.
- Affiliation:
- Integrated Laboratory Systems · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 5-day-old quarter horse colt was very sick, showing signs like low body temperature, trouble breathing, and diarrhea, and unfortunately, he had to be euthanized. During the examination after death, the veterinarians found many small, raised nodules in his colon and small intestine, which were made up of a lot of nerve cells. Some of these nodules showed signs of inflammation and infection. The changes seen in the colt's intestines were similar to a condition known as intestinal neuronal dysplasia, which affects the nerve network in the gut. Sadly, the treatment options were not applicable since the colt was euthanized due to his severe condition.
Abstract
A 5-day-old quarter horse colt with a history of hypothermia, agonal breathing, and diarrhea was euthanized. At necropsy, numerous slightly raised, discrete, closely approximated submucosal nodules were observed in the colon and small intestine. Histologically, these nodules were composed of expanded submucosal mesenchyme that contained numerous neurons either individually or in ganglia. Thirty-two percent of these ganglia included 8 or more neurons, in contrast to 6% in an age-matched foal. Some nodules had necrosuppurative inflammation with vasculitis, thrombosis, and bacterial colonization. A few heterotopic neurons were randomly distributed in the mucosa and the muscularis mucosa. Histologic changes were most consistent with intestinal neuronal dysplasia, a disease of the submucosal plexus described in humans.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20466864/