競走馬にみられた急性下痢症(So-Called Colitis X)2例の病理学的所見について

抄録

1) Histopathological examinations were conducted as to two race horses which died of acute diarrhea (so-called Colitis X). The animals each ran peracute and acute course. 2) The main findings common to both of the cases were as follows: a. General congestions. b. General congestive hemorrhages. c. In the alimentary tract particularly large intestines, congestive and con gestive-hemorrhagic changes, and edematous changes mainly in the submucosa. d. Degeneration of nerve cells (shrinkage, honeycombed vacuolization) in the intramural nerve plexus of the alimentary tract. e. In the lungs, congestive and congestive-hemorrhagic changes and edematous changes. f. Congestions and congestive hemorrhages in the adrenals (one case exhibited hematoma-like feature). g. Follicular atrophy in the spleen and lymph nodes. h. Increase in density of the blood and failing of the blood coagulability. 3) In one case about which the examinations were conducted from general standpoints, there existed frequently degeneration and loss of nerve cells in the spinal dorsal root ganglia, ganglia of sympathetic trunk, cervical vago sympathetic and nodose ganglia, especially in the foremost one and also existed degeneration of nerve cells in the anterior and posterior mesenteric ganglia. It is possible that such regressive changes of nerve cells may be a primary factor participating in pathogenesis of the disease. 4) The alimentary tract had conspicuous parasitic lesions, while it had little inflammatory changes having presumably direct relation to diarrhea. Regarding the disease name "Colitis X" denoting inflammatory condition, there may be room for further histopathological study.