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Equine veterinary journal2019; 51(6); 756-759; doi: 10.1111/evj.13100

Abortion in donkeys associated with Salmonella abortus equi infection.

Abstract: Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar abortus equi (S. abortus equi) is well known as the aetiological agent of equine abortion. However, abortion caused by S. abortus equi has not been previously described in donkeys. Objective: To investigate whether S. abortus equi was correlated with an abortion outbreak consisting of 61 abortions. Methods: Investigation of the clinical cases using pathoanatomical, bacteriological, serological and molecular approaches. Methods: Autopsies on nine aborted foetuses were performed. Tissue specimens from seven aborted foetuses and two mares were cultured and subjected to detection of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1), equine herpesvirus 4 (EHV-4) and equine arteritis virus (EAV) by polymerase chain reaction. The isolates were serotyped according to the Kaufmann-White scheme and analysed by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). Detection of EHV and EAV antibodies was performed in all pregnant mares. Results: No obvious gross lesions were observed in the foetuses. Nine Gram-negative isolates were obtained from all nine tissue samples and were identified as Salmonella spp. All of the isolates belonged to the B group, the O antigen epitope was 4, 12 and H antigen was not obtained. The isolates of Salmonella were characterised as sequence type (ST) 251. Detection of EHV-1, EHV-4 and EAV was negative. Conclusions: The mechanism that causes abortion in donkeys needs further study and the lack of histological examination. Conclusions: Salmonella abortus equi was isolated as the single agent and was responsible for the abortions. Equine practitioners should be aware of S. abortus equi infection as a cause of abortion in donkeys.
© 2019 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2019-04-10 PubMed ID: 30868638DOI: 10.1111/evj.13100Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study investigates the cause behind an abortion outbreak in donkeys and finds that Salmonella abortus equi, a bacterial strain usually responsible for horse abortions, is the culpriting agent. Through a series of examinations and lab tests, the researchers have reshaped the understanding of equine reproductive disease.

Objective and Methods

  • The primary objective of this study was to investigate if Salmonella abortus equi, often linked to horse abortions, was responsible for an outbreak of 61 abortions in donkeys.
  • To come to a conclusion, the researchers used several methods such as clinical case investigation through pathoanatomical, bacteriological, serological and molecular approaches.
  • This included performing autopsies on nine aborted foetuses and culturing tissue specimens taken from seven aborted foetuses and two mares.
  • The researchers also looked for the presence of three viruses known to exist in equine populations – equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1), equine herpesvirus 4 (EHV-4) and equine arteritis virus (EAV) – using the polymerase chain reaction technique.
  • Investigators serotyped the isolates according to the Kaufmann-White scheme and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) to identify the bacteria’s strain.
  • The presence of EHV and EAV antibodies in all pregnant mares was also checked.

Results

  • Through their investigations, the researchers arrived at several significant findings:
  • None of the foetuses showed gross lesions, an indication that an external agent was unlikely to have caused the abortions.
  • From all nine tissue samples, nine Gram-negative isolates were extracted, all identified as Salmonella spp. Significantly, all of the isolates belonged to the B group and were characterised as sequence type (ST) 251.
  • The study revealed that EHV-1, EHV-4 and EAV were not present in the examined samples.

Conclusions

  • The findings led the researchers to determine that Salmonella abortus equi was indeed the single agent behind the series of donkey abortions.
  • Yet, they also noted that more research is required on the mechanism underlying this Salmonella-induced abortion in donkeys and suggested conducting a histological examination.
  • Meanwhile, they underscored the importance for equine practitioners to recognize the potential role of S. abortus equi infection as a cause of abortion in donkeys.

Cite This Article

APA
Wang H, Liu KJ, Sun YH, Cui LY, Meng X, Jiang GM, Zhao FW, Li JJ. (2019). Abortion in donkeys associated with Salmonella abortus equi infection. Equine Vet J, 51(6), 756-759. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13100

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 6
Pages: 756-759

Researcher Affiliations

Wang, H
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
  • Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Liu, K J
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
  • Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Sun, Y H
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
  • Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Cui, L Y
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
  • Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Meng, X
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
  • Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Jiang, G M
  • National Engineering Research Center for Gelatin-Based Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dong-E-E-Jiao Co. Ltd., Donge, Shandong, China.
Zhao, F W
  • National Engineering Research Center for Gelatin-Based Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dong-E-E-Jiao Co. Ltd., Donge, Shandong, China.
Li, J J
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
  • Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.

MeSH Terms

  • Abortion, Veterinary / epidemiology
  • Abortion, Veterinary / microbiology
  • Animals
  • China
  • Equidae
  • Female
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / microbiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / veterinary
  • Salmonella / classification
  • Salmonella Infections, Animal / epidemiology
  • Salmonella Infections, Animal / microbiology
  • Salmonella Infections, Animal / pathology

Grant Funding

  • Top-notch Academic Programs Project of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (TAPP)
  • Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD)
  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship Reform Project of Yangzhou University
  • Outstanding Young Backbone Teacher Foundation of Yangzhou University

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