Acute Infectious Diarrhea – Field Diagnostic Guidelines

The AAEP Field Diagnostic Guidelines provide step-by-step instruction for the diagnostic work-up and management of clinical syndromes commonly encountered in equine practice. They are intended to help practitioners determine appropriate samples and tests necessary to achieve a definitive diagnosis while implementing appropriate biosecurity measures

A wide range of infectious and non-infectious diseases can give rise to diarrhea in the horse, some of which have substantial biosecurity, herd health, and zoonotic implications. While many gastrointestinal conditions in the horse are neither contagious nor zoonotic, some common infectious agents, including but not limited to Equine Coronavirus, Equine Rotavirus, Salmonella spp., and Clostridioides difficile, are contagious or zoonotic, warranting implementation of biosecurity protocols to protect humans and animals from infection.

Flowchart reprinted with permission from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.