Endotoxemia is seen clinically as fever, congestion of the mucous membranes, poor capillary refill time, decreased gastrointestinal sounds and ileus, tachypnea, tachycardia, shock, hooves that initially feel cool then become hot, laminitis, colic, leukopenia, metabolic acidosis, DIC, organ failure and death. Diagnosis is made through clinical signs and symptoms, blood analysis and a history of gastrointestinal disease. Treatment includes heparin, NSAID’s such as flunixin, ___________________, anti-toxin serum, IV fluids and plasma transfusion.
Prognosis is guarded dependent on the dose of circulating endotoxin.
Vasculitis
Vasculitis is defined as the inflammation of the small blood vessels such as _______________, arterioles and venules. Vasculitis is usually caused by systemic viral infection, which attacks the ___________ cells of the small blood vessels causing inflammation. Infections known to cause vasculitis include Equine Infectious Anemia, Equine Viral Arteritis, Purpura Haemorrhagica and Equine Ehrlichiosis. The swelling associated with inflammation causes ____________ or occlusion of the blood vessel or weakens the vessel wall forming an aneurysm. Chronic vasculitis leads to ____________ & fibrosis of the small blood vessels, which makes the vessel wall thicker and less elastic. This predisposes the vessel to aneurysm and thrombosis formation. The clinical presentation of vasculitis includes areas of edema and necrosis of the skin of the limbs, the pinnae, the perioccular region, the muzzle and the ventral abdomen, petecchia or purpura of the mucous membranes, laminitis, colic and organ failure. Diagnosis of vasculitis is made through clinical signs and symptoms, history of systemic infection and skin biopsy showing ischemic necrosis.
Treatment includes NSAID’s and treatment of the underlying infection.
Prognosis for vasculitis is guarded depending on the underlying cause.
Vasculitis is commonly associated with the sexually transmitted disease ______________ , and is reported to occur more commonly in racehorses.
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