Research now underway may one day yield additional or improved treatments for colitis in horses. Currently, there are three primary areas of focus.
Fecal transfaunation
Also known as fecal transplant, fecal transfaunation was developed to restore populations of beneficial gut bacteria. In the procedure, clinicians collect feces from a healthy horse and introduce them into the colon of an ailing horse. Fecal transfaunation shows promise for horses, with positive effects reported anecdotally. But, says Gary Magdesian, DVM, DACVIM, DAVECC, a professor at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, researchers are working hard to answer important questions about this therapy. “We hope to learn more about whether the procedure helps the survival rates and shortens the course of the disease,” he says. “Also, how long do the effects of the procedure last?”
Biologic therapies
Platelet-rich plasma and other biologic therapies show promise as possible treatments for the inflammation at the root of colitis. “Platelet products have potent anti-inflammatory effects and currently are very popular for joint, tendon and ligament healing,” says Erin Byrne, DVM, Dip. ACVIM, Internal Medicine Specialist at the Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Santa Ynez Valley, California. “Other applications are under research. I think eventually we’ll get where there’s more products available for IV and systemic use. But as far as colitis and pneumonia, I think we have a way to go before those products will be available.”
Pathogen research
Scientific investigations into diseases and their causal organisms can not only protect horses from infectious diseases but also from secondary effects, such as colitis. “One example of the progress that can be made was the discovery of a second form of Potomac horse fever recently. Now we have a test for that,” says Magdesian. “There are a couple of other clostridial agents and different species that are being studied right now to learn more about their potential role in colitis in horses.”
