Obstruction of equine small intestine associated with focal idiopathic eosinophilic enteritis: an emerging disease?
Authors: Archer Debra C, Barrie Edwards G, Kelly Donald F, French Nigel P, Proudman Christopher J
Journal: Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Idiopathic Focal Eosinophilic Enteritis in Horses Between 2000 and 2005, a previously unrecognised condition—idiopathic focal eosinophilic enteritis (IFEE)—emerged as a notable cause of small intestinal obstruction in the authors' hospital population, prompting investigation into its clinical presentation and surgical management. Twelve horses presenting with colic underwent exploratory laparotomy, revealing characteristic thickened serosal plaques or circumferential constrictions in the jejunum; histological examination of resected tissue confirmed severe transmural enteritis dominated by eosinophilic infiltration, with no parasitic involvement identified in any case. Surgical resection achieved complete recovery in seven of ten horses treated operatively, whereas one horse managed conservatively subsequently re-obstructed at a pre-existing lesion, demonstrating the importance of definitive intervention. The aetiology remains unknown, and the gross pathological features—visibly and palpably striking but potentially subtle—may be overlooked during routine colic surgery if not specifically sought. For practitioners, IFEE warrants inclusion in the differential diagnosis for jejunal obstruction refractory to medical management, with submission of resected tissue for histopathological examination being essential to confirm diagnosis and guide prognosis, as surgical excision offers genuinely curative potential rather than merely palliative relief.
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Practical Takeaways
- •IFEE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of small intestinal obstruction in horses presenting with colic; gross lesions may be subtle and easily missed without careful intraoperative examination
- •Histopathological examination of resected intestinal tissue is essential for diagnosis as gross appearance alone may not be distinctive
- •Surgical resection of affected intestine offers good prognosis with 70% of surgically treated horses achieving complete recovery
Key Findings
- •12 horses with IFEE presented with colic and jejunal obstruction involving thickened serosal plaques or circumferential constrictions
- •Surgical resection was performed in 10 horses with 7 achieving complete recovery
- •Histological examination revealed severe transmural enteritis with eosinophilic leucocytes as predominant inflammatory cells in all cases
- •IFEE represents an uncommon but significant cause of small intestinal obstruction for which surgical resection can be curative