## Overview Tyzzer’s disease is an acute, highly fatal hepatitis of foals 1 to 6 weeks old (most often 7 to 42 days) caused by Clostridium piliforme. Foals are infected by ingesting spores from contaminated feces or the environment. Signs include peracute death, profound depression, fever, jaundice, diarrhea, and convulsions. Even with aggressive treatment, virtually all affected foals die within about 35 hours of onset. ## Causes Clostridium piliforme infection. ## Diagnosis Clinical signs in a young foal, liver enzyme elevation, and post-mortem confirmation of hepatic necrosis with intracellular bacteria. ## Treatment Intensive supportive care and antibiotics. Success is extremely rare. ## Recovery and Prognosis Grave. Nearly all foals die. ## Prevention Good hygiene to reduce fecal contamination. No vaccine is available.
peracute death in foals; profound depression; fever; jaundice; diarrhea; convulsions
## Overview Tyzzer’s disease is an acute, highly fatal hepatitis of foals 1 to 6 weeks old (most often 7 to 42 days) caused by Clostridium piliforme. Foals are infected by ingesting spores from contaminated feces or the environment. Signs include peracute death, profound depression, fever, jaundice, diarrhea, and convulsions. Even with aggressive treatment, virtually all affected foals die within about 35 hours of onset. ## Causes Clostridium piliforme infection. ## Diagnosis Clinical signs in a young foal, liver enzyme elevation, and post-mortem confirmation of hepatic necrosis with intracellular bacteria. ## Treatment Intensive supportive care and antibiotics. Success is extremely rare. ## Recovery and Prognosis Grave. Nearly all foals die. ## Prevention Good hygiene to reduce fecal contamination. No vaccine is available.
peracute death in foals; profound depression; fever; jaundice; diarrhea; convulsions