Treatment includes the administration of systemic antibiotics and IV fluids, especially dextrose soloution. Prognosis for individuals affected by Tyzzer’s disease is grave as mortality rate is thought to be near %.
Cholangiohepatitis
Cholangiohepatitis is a bacterial infection of the liver or the
.
Cholangiohepatitis is usually caused by Salmonella spp., E. coli, Pseudomonas spp., or Actinobacillus equi. Bacteria can enter the liver either through the hepatic circulation or from the gastrointestinal tract. If the rout of infection is descending the bacteria are present in the blood and enter the tissue of the liver through the . The bacteria invade the parenchyma of the liver causing inflammation and dysfunction of the liver. If the rout of infection is ascending bacteria from the gut enter the distal end of the bile duct and move proximally into the hepatic bile ducts causing inflammation and stenosis of the bile ducts and congestion of the liver with bile, which inhibits liver function. Calculi within the bile ducts, ileus, duodenal ulceration and parasitic migration through the liver all predispose a horse to cholangiohepatitis. The clinical presentation of cholangiohepatitis may be acute or may be chronic. The acute presentation includes , endotoxemia, photosensitivity, hepatic encephalopathy and septicemia. The chronic presentation includes anorexia, weight loss, intermittent fever, colic and icterus. Diagnosis can be made through serology showing increased levels of SDH, AST, GGT, Bilirubin and bile acids and through liver biopsy demonstrating abscesses in the liver.
Treatment is the administration of systemic antibiotics based in culture from the liver biopsy.
Prognosis for cholangiohepatitis is poor as a large portion of the liver must be damaged before clinical signs and symptoms are present.
Choleolithiasis and Hepatolithiasis
Choleolithiasis is the term used to describe
in the common bile duct and
hepatolithiasis describes calculi in the intrahepatic bile ducts.
342
Made with FlippingBook Publishing Software