Equine neonatal septicaemia: 24 cases

Abstract

Equine neonatal septicaemia was confirmed in 24 foals hospitalised at the Rural Veterinary Centre between 1989 and 1992 with suspected septicaemia. Septicaemia was confirmed by culture of bacteria from blood of live foals and tissues obtained at necropsy of foals that died or were euthanased. Pathogenic bacteria isolated were predominantly Enterobacteriaceae (including Escherichia coli and Salmonella serovars) and Actinobacillus equuli. Clinical manifestations of septicaemia included signs of depression, dehydration, abnormalities in body temperature and manifestations of localised infection including diarrhoea, pneumonia, and septic arthritis. Most common haematological abnormalities were neutropenia and increase of circulating band neutrophils. Survival rate of foals with confirmed septicaemia was 70.8%. Survival was found to be less likely in the presence of pneumonia, severe signs of depression, marked haematological changes or septic arthritis at the time of admission. Seven foals were confirmed to have septic arthritis without concurrent septicaemia. Of these, 4 had multiple joint involvement. Bacteria isolated from infected joints were predominantly Salmonella serovars. Four foals with septic arthritis failed to survive, due to multiple joint infection, which was unresponsive to treatment. The clinical and haematological abnormalities present in foals with confirmed septicaemia and septic arthritis were consistent with those observed in other studies. The bacterial isolates from foals with confirmed septicaemia were similar to those isolated in other studies. In contrast, the bacteria isolated from foals with septic arthritis without concurrent septicaemia were different from other studies.

HORSE SPECIES SYMPOSIUM: A novel approach to monitoring pathogen progression during uterine and placental infection in the mare using bioluminescence imaging technology and lux-modified bacteria1,2

“…Similar findings were observed in experimental studies with pregnant rats (Cai et al, 2000;Rodts-Palenik et al, 2004). Whereas several studies have reported a greater incidence of septicemia in neonatal foals born to mares with uterine infections (Raisis et al, 1996;Gayle et al, 1998;Stewart et al, 2002) and that foals with increased serum TNFa activity had greater mortality rates (Morris and Moore, 1991), no light-emitting bacteria were detected in the fetal foal brain (Ryan et al, 2010a). Nevertheless, it is not clear at this point whether hypoxic ischemia encephalopathy (i.e., neonatal maladjustment foal syndrome) observed in foals that endure difficult deliveries might also be a consequence of in utero compromise of the fetus caused by placental insufficiency associated with uterine infections (i.e., placentitis).…”

Culture‐Positive Sepsis in Neonatal Camelids: 21 Cases

“…5,33,37 FPT of immunity may play a role in the development of neonatal sepsis. Cria owners and referring veterinarians were aware of this association, as evidenced by the frequency of additional colostrum feedings and plasma transfusions administered before admission.…”

Prognostic factors in the sick neonatal foal

“…A sepsis score >23 has reported to have 100% diagnostic accuracy and has been associated with mortality (White et al 2001). Other factors associated to failure to survive are: pneumonia and severe depression at presentation, neutropenia persisting for 24 hours, degenerative left shift, low N:L ratio (Raisis et al 1996), ACTH/cortisol ratio and vasopressin levels (Gold et al 2006a), overzealous IL-6 response (Gold et al 2006b), positive blood culture with a Gram-negative bacterium isolated, especially Actinobacillus spp (Stewart et al 2002;Corley et al 2007). However the studies on the role of blood culture and of multiple foci of infection provided conflicting results (Stewart et al 2002;Sanchez 2005;Peek et al 2006).…”