Equine Proliferative Enteropathy: Developing a Challenge Model (AAEP 2010)

It isn’t every day that a new disease or ailment is discovered, as many of the most common equine health problems have been around for several decades, if not centuries. But within the past decade a new disease has emerged that appears most frequently in weanlings. The disease is equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE), a gastrointestinal disease that causes excessive weight loss and stunted growth
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It isn't every day that a new disease or ailment is discovered, as many of the most common equine health problems have been around for several decades, if not centuries. But within the past decade a new disease has emerged that appears most frequently in weanlings. The disease is equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE), a gastrointestinal disease that causes excessive weight loss and stunted growth in foals.

Because veterinarians only recently discovered EPE, little research has been completed on it. But Allen E. Page, DVM, of the University of Kentucky, has developed a challenge model for EPE, a breakthrough that he discussed at the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 4-8, 2010, in Baltimore, Md.

The bacterium Lawsonia intracellularis is the causative bacterial agent for EPE, which is characterized by diarrhea, depression, fever, inappetance (anorexia), weight loss, edema (fluid accumulation in the skin) of the throat latch, ventral abdomen, or lower limbs, a poor hair coat, and intermittent colic (due to thickening of the mucosal lining in the small intestine). Most of the knowledge that equine veterinarians possess about this disease is from the research that has been done in swine, in which L. intracellularis was noted long before it appeared in horses.

The disease typically is not fatal, providing that a diagnosis is made early and the foal receives proper medical treatment. Even then, however, the foal likely will have suffered severe weight loss and stunted growth; affected foals might have a smaller overall stature than unaffected ones, although research into this aspect of EPE is lacking

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Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.

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