Equine Laminitis : A Review -
Authors: R. H. Bhatt, N. Kelawala, D. Suthar, S. Jhala
Journal: Journal of Veterinary Advances
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Equine Laminitis – A Review **A significant discrepancy exists between the paper's title and its actual content.** Bhatt and colleagues have produced a comprehensive review of equine colitis rather than laminitis, examining both infectious pathogens (including *Clostridioides difficile*, *Clostridium perfringens*, Salmonella spp., and equine coronavirus) and non-infectious triggers such as NSAID administration and sand ingestion. The authors position intestinal epithelial ion channels—particularly those regulating sodium, chloride, and water movement—as central to understanding diarrhoeal pathophysiology, noting that pathogenic organisms actively manipulate these channels to disrupt electrolyte homeostasis. Whilst ion channel modulation has shown promise as an anti-diarrheal strategy in other species, equine colonic ion channels remain poorly characterised, representing a significant gap in our understanding of disease mechanisms and therapeutic potential. For equine practitioners managing acute colitis cases, this review underscores why current treatment remains largely symptomatic (fluid-electrolyte restoration, laminitis and sepsis prevention) and suggests that targeted ion channel therapies could represent a future advancement—though such approaches require substantial further research specific to equine physiology before clinical application.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Current colitis management remains largely symptomatic (fluid/electrolyte balance, laminitis and sepsis prevention) with limited pathogen-specific therapies available
- •Identifying the specific pathogenic cause of colitis is important since different organisms manipulate ion channels differently, potentially allowing future targeted treatments
- •Future research into equine colonic ion channel function may enable development of novel anti-diarrheal treatments beyond current supportive care
Key Findings
- •Multiple infectious pathogens (C. difficile, C. perfringens, Salmonella, Neorickettsia, equine coronavirus) and non-infectious causes (NSAIDs, sand, infiltrative disease) are associated with equine colitis
- •Intestinal epithelial ion channels regulate electrolyte and water movement, with dysfunction playing a key role in diarrhea development
- •Infectious pathogens including Salmonella and C. difficile regulate ion channels through various mechanisms to promote diarrhea
- •Ion channel manipulation shows promise as anti-diarrheal therapy in other species but remains understudied in equine colon