Hepatitis, Bacterial

Hepatitis, Bacterial



Basic Information image



Definition


Primary bacterial hepatitis (inflammation of the liver caused by bacterial infection) and primary bacterial cholangiohepatitis (inflammation of the liver and biliary system) are infrequent causes of hepatic disease in adult horses.



Epidemiology



Species, Age, Sex




• Middle-aged to older horses


• Neonatal foals



Associated Conditions and Disorders


Secondary septic or nonseptic peritonitis may be present.



Clinical Presentation



History, Chief Complaint


Depression, weakness, anorexia, colic, and weight loss in chronic cases



Physical Exam Findings




• Fever, weight loss, and variable icterus.


• Clinical signs of hepatoencephalopathy may be present.



Etiology and Pathophysiology




• The etiopathogenesis of bacterial hepatitis is uncertain. Retrograde bacterial infection from the small intestine is the probable cause in mature horses as a sequela to biliary stasis, cholelithiasis, chronic active hepatitis, intestinal obstruction, and proximal enteritis.


• The most common isolates associated with ascending bacterial hepatitis in mature horses are enteric organisms, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Aeromonas, and Acinetobacter spp.


• Hematogenous dissemination secondary to sepsis is the probable cause in neonatal foals. Bacterial sepsis in foals may result in focal to multifocal bacterial hepatitis.

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Jul 24, 2016 | Posted by in SMALL ANIMAL | Comments Off on Hepatitis, Bacterial

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