Risk factors for laminitis and nonsurvival in acute colitis: Retrospective study of 85 hospitalized horses (2011-2019).
Authors: Luethy Daniela, Feldman Rose, Stefanovski Darko, Aitken Maia R
Journal: Journal of veterinary internal medicine
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Acute Colitis, Laminitis Risk and Survival Outcomes Between 2011 and 2019, researchers reviewed medical records of 85 hospitalised horses with acute colitis caused by enteric salmonellosis, coronavirus, or neorickettsiosis to identify which clinical and laboratory variables predicted laminitis development and survival to discharge. Neorickettsiosis proved particularly problematic, with 42% of affected horses developing laminitis compared to none of the coronavirus cases, whilst admission heart rate, low total solids, elevated band neutrophils, and low bicarbonate concentration emerged as independent predictors of laminitis risk. Overall survival was 74%, but ranged from 100% for coronavirus cases to 65% for neorickettsiosis; packed cell volume, L-lactate concentration, and laminitis development itself all significantly associated with nonsurvival. For practitioners managing acute colitis cases, these findings underscore the importance of monitoring specific haematological and biochemical parameters as prognostic indicators, with particular vigilance warranted where neorickettsiosis is endemic, since this condition carries substantially higher laminitis and mortality risks than other aetiologies.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Neorickettsiosis presents significantly higher risk for laminitis complications in acute colitis compared to viral causes—maintain vigilant lameness monitoring and consider preventive farriery protocols in suspected neorickettsiosis cases
- •Clinical parameters at admission (heart rate, total solids, band neutrophils, bicarbonate) can help stratify laminitis risk; elevated lactate and packed cell volume are poor prognostic indicators for survival
- •Laminitis development during acute colitis treatment dramatically worsens survival outcomes (HR 7.07)—aggressive early intervention to prevent laminitis may improve overall case outcomes
Key Findings
- •42% of neorickettsiosis cases developed laminitis compared to 0% of coronavirus cases (OR 24.48, P=0.03)
- •Admission heart rate, low total solids, elevated band neutrophils, and low bicarbonate concentration were independent predictors of laminitis development
- •74% of horses survived to discharge overall, with 100% survival in coronavirus cases but only 65% in neorickettsiosis cases
- •Elevated packed cell volume, L-lactate concentration, and development of laminitis were independent predictors of nonsurvival