Lawsonia intracellularis in a Belgian filly : a typical presentation of an atypical cause of colic in a weanling

Proliferative enteropathy due to the gram-negative intracellular bacterium Lawsonia intracellularis is commonly recognized in swine. However until recently, cases in equids have rarely been reported. Within the last ten years, L. intracellularis has been reported in increasing numbers, as the causative agent in equine proliferative enteropathies. However, it's unclear whether the actual incidence of L. intracellularis infections have increased or whether the ability to diagnose it has improved. Equids affected are generally between 3 and 13 months with hypoproteinemia being the most consistent clinical finding. This paper describes a 6 month-old Belgian filly with transient colic signs attributed to a proliferative enteropathy, with L. intracellularis being the causative organism. Diagnosis of L. intracellularis proliferative enteropathy was made using serum ELISA, however other means of diagnosing L. intracellularis infections are discussed. Classic and novel treatment protocols for effectively managing equine L. intracellularis infections, as well as the potential for vaccination, are also covered in this paper