Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in horses: a retrospective study exploring the value of different diagnostic approaches.
Authors: Boshuizen Berit, Ploeg Margreet, Dewulf Jeroen, Klooster Sanne, Bruijn Marco de, Picavet Marie- Thérèse, Palmers Katrien, Plancke Lukas, Cock Hilde De, Theelen Mathijs, Delesalle Catherine
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Diagnostic Approaches to Equine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Diagnosing equine IBD presents a genuine clinical challenge due to the absence of a single definitive test, necessitating reliance on multiple diagnostic modalities to reach a diagnosis. This retrospective analysis across four European referral hospitals examined 78 horses with suspected IBD, evaluating the diagnostic utility of case history, clinical examination findings, oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT), and enteral biopsies (both duodenal and rectal), alongside treatment approaches and outcomes. The research identified significant associations between specific diagnostic test results, therapeutic interventions, and patient prognosis, providing evidence-based guidance on which diagnostic pathways were most informative in differentiating IBD from other conditions causing chronic gastrointestinal signs. For equine practitioners, this multimodal approach—rather than relying on any single test—improves diagnostic confidence and enables more targeted treatment decisions, ultimately improving management outcomes for horses presenting with chronic weight loss, poor performance, or intermittent colic. The study reinforces that whilst enteral biopsies remain the gold standard for confirming mucosal inflammation, integration of metabolic testing and clinical assessment patterns can help guide which horses warrant invasive investigation versus those suitable for empirical dietary or medical management.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Do not rely on any single diagnostic test for IBD—use multiple tests (biopsies and metabolic screening) together to build a diagnosis
- •Both duodenal and rectal biopsies should be considered as part of the diagnostic workup, along with glucose tolerance testing
- •Treatment decisions in IBD cases should be informed by the pattern of results across multiple diagnostic modalities rather than one test alone
Key Findings
- •No single conclusive diagnostic test exists for equine IBD; multimodal diagnostic approach required across duodenal biopsy, rectal biopsy, and oral glucose tolerance testing
- •78 horses with suspected IBD presented to four referral hospitals with variable diagnostic test results and treatment responses
- •Enteral biopsies (duodenal and rectal) and OGTT demonstrated associations with treatment outcomes in IBD cases