duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (dpj) in a stallion

duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (dpj), also known as anterior or proximal enteritis is a clinical syndrome that is characterized by edema and inflammation of the duodenum and proximal jejunum, excessive fluid and electrolyte secretion into the small intestine and large volume of enterogastric reflux. in january 2003, a 15-year-old anglo arab stallion has been used for jumping and breeding, developed signs of acute abdomen. the horse was treated with isotonic fluid, flunixin meglumine, xylazine, mineral oil and penicillin. there was no history of diet change or transportation stress. the horse was euthanized because of poor body condition, senility and economic constraints and necropsied at teaching and researchveterinarymedicalhospital, university of tehran. macroscopically, the stomach and small intestine were distended by large amount of sanguineous and malodorous fluid. the gastric and intestinal mucosa was deep red and the serosal surface had numerous petechial and ecchymotic hemorrhages. gross lesions were restricted to the stomach, duodenum and proximal jejunum. the other tissues were congested and edematous. clostridium perfringens was isolated in pure culture from intestinal fluid contents and metatarsal bone marrow. histopathological examinations revealed epithelial sloughing and necrosis, severe hyperemia, fibrin-rich edema and neutrophilic infiltration in the mucosa and submucosa and extensive hemorrhages in the muscularis layers and serosa. on the basis of clinical signs, bacteriologic, macroscopic and histopathologic findings, the condition was diagnosed as a fibrinonecrotic duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (dpj).