Jejunal hemorrhage syndrome: a newly emerging disease

Jejunal hemorrhage syndrome (JHS) is a newly recognized syndrome that is also called: intraluminal intestinal hemorrhage syndrome bloody gut hemorrhagic bowel syndrome.1 The syndrome affects both dairy and beef cattle.2,3 The etiology is unknown; however, Clostridium perfringens type A has been implicated. It has a peracute onset of clinical signs ranging from complete anorexia, abdominal distention and pain, to recumbency and sudden death. The frequency of the disease is increasing and it has a very high case-fatality rate; medical and surgical treatments seem to be unrewarding. The condition has been recognized in many parts of Canada3 and, as a result, it is very important for veterinarians to be aware of its highly fatal course so they can give accurate advice. Reporting the disease, as well as the different attempts at treatment and prevention, will help improve the approach to treating these cases.