Clostridial Enterocolitis Disease in Adult Horses Guidelines

Clostridial diarrhea is caused by the gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacteria Clostridium and Clostridioides spp. While the most common isolates in horses are Clostridium perfringens and Clostridioides difficile, multiple others, including C. septicum, C. cadaveris and C. sordellii, have also been rarely associated with enterocolitis.

Clostridial bacteria are present in the environment and in feces, with it being common for these bacteria to be present in the GI tract of healthy horses.

In adult horses, clostridial diarrhea and enteritis have been associated with factors that may alter the balance of the intestinal flora (microbiome) such as the administration of antibiotics, feed changes, and transportation, but can also occur in the absence of any identifiable risk factors.