DOI : https :// doi . org / 10.56496 / YSAP3330

Samantha Feighery , BSc ( Hons ), RVN

Rossdales LLP

ENVELOPE samfeighery @ yahoo . ie

Samantha graduated from University College Dublin with a first-class BSc ( Hons ) in veterinary nursing in June 2013 . Shortly after graduating , she moved to Kentucky to work at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute for the breeding season , before taking up a post at Weipers Centre Equine Hospital , University of Glasgow . Samantha has a keen interest in neonatal nursing and is the lead clinical nurse at Rossdales Equine Hospital in Newmarket .

ABSTRACT Lawsonia intracellularis causes proliferative enteropathy in horses and in various other species , such as pigs . Affected horses often present to a clinic with diarrhoea along with other clinical signs .

This article discusses the treatment and nursing of a 6-month-old Thoroughbred foal with equine proliferative enteropathy , including nutrition , fluid therapy , medications and general nursing care .

Keywords nursing , care , equine , proliferative enteropathy , EPE , foal , Lawsonia intracellularis , diarrhoea , pyrexia

Introduction

Lawsonia intracellularis is a pathogenic bacterial species that affects the gastrointestinal tract . In horses , it causes a condition known as equine proliferative enteropathy ( EPE ). Horses aged between 4 and 9 months seem to be most susceptible [ 1 ] . In the UK and Ireland the disease usually occurs between August and late February , with an incubation period of 2 – 3 weeks .

Horses presenting with EPE generally have hypoproteinaemia and hypoalbuminaemia , along with other clinical signs ( Table 1 ). Despite aggressive treatment , the condition can be fatal in horses due to secondary complications , such as necrotising enteritis [ 2 ] .

20 Veterinary Nursing Journal