First recognised outbreak of equine proliferative enteropathy in Scandinavia on a thoroughbred farm in Sweden

Summary

Equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE) is a disease caused by Lawsonia intracellularis . In this case series, five weanlings from the same breeding farm were diagnosed with EPE. They presented with fever (5/5), lethargy (3/5), tachycardia (3/5), anorexia (2/5), dehydration (2/5), decreased borborygmi (2/5) and rectal prolapse (1/5). All had hypoalbuminaemia, hypoproteinaemia and an increased small intestinal wall thickness on ultrasound. A presumptive diagnosis was based on faecal PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and IFA (Indirect Fluorescent Antibody test) of serum. The combination of faecal PCR and serology is suggested by literature for the most accurate diagnosis. Treatment consisted of tetracyclines, with a mean duration of 26 days—initially administered intravenously while hospitalised and continued orally after discharge. Two weanlings were euthanised due to poor response to treatment and complications. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case series describing an EPE outbreak in Scandinavian countries. The report describes clinical findings and treatment and discusses possible epidemiology and highlights EPE as a potential differential diagnosis for weanlings in Sweden.