Actinobacillus sp. bacteremia in foals: clinical signs and prognosis.
Abstract: Medical records of 101 blood culture-confirmed bacteremic foals were reviewed to determine whether foals with Actinobacillus sp. bacteremia are affected at an earlier age, have more severe signs of disease, and have a worse prognosis than do foals with bacteremia of other causes. Thirty percent (30/101) of bacteremic foals had Actinobacillus sp. cultured, and these were 2 times more likely to die (crude odds ratio [OR(CR)] 0.8, 4; P = .14), with a survival rate of 43% (13/30) compared to the overall survival rate of 55% (56/101). When compared to other bacteremic foals, foals with actinobacillosis were 7 times more likely to have been sick from birth (adjusted odds ratio [OR(ADJ)] 2, 26; P = .003) and 6 times more likely to have diarrhea (OR(ADJ) 1, 22; P = .009). By bivariate analysis. foals with Actinobacillus sp. bacteremia were 5 times more likely to have a sepsis score >11 (OR(CR) 1, 18; P = .007), 6 times more likely to be obtunded (OR(CR) 2, 20; P = .005), and 3 times more likely to have pneumonia (OR(CR) 1, 7; P = .03). Furthermore, Actinobacillus sp. bacteremic foals were 27 times more likely to have a segmented neutrophil count <3.3 X 10(9) cells/L (OR(ADJ) 4, 166: P 0.46 x 10(9) cells/L (OR(ADJ) 1, 17; P = .02) when compared to foals that had bacteremia caused by either gram-negative enteric or gram-positive organisms. Sepsis score was < or = 11 in 49% (29/59) of bacteremia foals aged <13 days for which a discernible sepsis score was calculable. Results of this study should improve the diagnostic sensitivity of clinical examinations of neonatal foals, thereby facilitating treatment decisions.
Publication Date: 2002-07-27 PubMed ID: 12141310DOI: 10.1892/0891-6640(2002)016<0464:sbifcs>2.3.co;2Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This abstract talks about a study that looked at the impact of Actinobacillus bacteremia on foals. It investigates if foals with this type of bacteremia are affected at an earlier age, how severe their symptoms are, and their chances of survival. The study found that foals suffering from actinobacillosis were more at risk to various symptoms and had a significantly lower survival rate compared to foals with bacteremia caused by other organisms.
Objective of the Study:
- The main objective of this study was to investigate the severity and prognosis of Actinobacillus bacteremia in foals compared to bacteremia from other pathogens.
Analysis and Findings:
- Out of 101 bacteremic foals, 30% had Actinobacillus sp. cultured. Foals with Actinobacillus bacteremia showed more severe disease signs and had a significantly lower survival rate (43% compared to the overall 55%).
- An adjusted odds ratio statistical analysis showed that foals with actinobacillosis were 7 times more likely to be ill from birth and 6 times more likely to show diarrhea than other bacteremic foals.
- Other observations made in the study were that foals with Actinobacillus bacteremia were 3 times more likely to develop pneumonia, and 6 times more likely to be obtunded (have reduced alertness).
- Importantly, these foals were found with a high likelihood (27 times more likely) to have lesser segmented neutrophil count, an indication of potential immune suppression, and an increased band neutrophil count, suggesting an ongoing bacterial infection.
Significance of the Study:
- The study provides valuable information that can help in early detection and treatment of Actinobacillus bacteremia. This can in turn allow for better survival rates for foals, particularly those less than 13 days old.
- Understanding the specific symptoms and their severity can guide veterinarians in making quicker and more accurate diagnoses, thus ensuring timely and more effective treatment decisions.
Cite This Article
APA
Stewart AJ, Hinchcliff KW, Saville WJ, Jose-Cunilleras E, Hardy J, Kohn CW, Reed SM, Kowalski JJ.
(2002).
Actinobacillus sp. bacteremia in foals: clinical signs and prognosis.
J Vet Intern Med, 16(4), 464-471.
https://doi.org/10.1892/0891-6640(2002)016<0464:sbifcs>2.3.co;2 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Actinobacillosis / epidemiology
- Actinobacillosis / pathology
- Actinobacillus / isolation & purification
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Bacteremia / epidemiology
- Bacteremia / microbiology
- Bacteremia / veterinary
- Bacteria, Anaerobic / isolation & purification
- Gram-Negative Bacteria / isolation & purification
- Gram-Positive Bacteria / isolation & purification
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Ohio / epidemiology
- Prognosis
- Records / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Survival Analysis
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Bookbinder LC, Mani R, Carr EA. Antibiograms of field and hospital acquired equine neonatal bacterial fluid cultures in the Midwestern United States: 149 samples (2007-2018).. J Vet Intern Med 2023 May-Jun;37(3):1193-1200.
- Kamali M, Carossino M, Del Piero F, Peak L, Mitchell MS, Willette J, Baker R, Li F, Kenéz Á, Balasuriya UBR, Go YY. Pathological Features and Genomic Characterization of an Actinobacillus equuli subsp. equuli Bearing Unique Virulence-Associated Genes from an Adult Horse with Pleuropneumonia.. Pathogens 2023 Jan 31;12(2).
- Gomez DE, Wong D, MacNicol J, Dembek K. The fecal bacterial microbiota of healthy and sick newborn foals.. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Jan;37(1):315-322.
- Hoeberg E, Sånge A, Saegerman C, Bohlin A, Nostell K, Durie I, Husted L, Öhman A, Jacobsen S, Berg L, Laursen SH, van Galen G. Serum amyloid A as a marker to detect sepsis and predict outcome in hospitalized neonatal foals.. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Nov;36(6):2245-2253.
- Cummings CO, Krucik DDR, Price E. Clinical predictive models in equine medicine: A systematic review.. Equine Vet J 2023 Jul;55(4):573-583.
- Taylor S. A review of equine sepsis.. Equine Vet Educ 2015 Feb;27(2):99-109.
- Uchida-Fujii E, Niwa H, Kinoshita Y, Nukada T. Actinobacillus species isolated from Japanese Thoroughbred racehorses in the last two decades.. J Vet Med Sci 2019 Sep 3;81(9):1234-1237.
- Awosile BB, Heider LC, Saab ME, McClure JT. Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated from horses from the Atlantic Provinces, Canada (1994 to 2013).. Can Vet J 2018 Sep;59(9):951-957.
- Sprayberry KA. Ultrasonographic Examination of the Equine Neonate: Thorax and Abdomen.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2015 Dec;31(3):515-43.
- Toth B, Slovis NM, Constable PD, Taylor SD. Plasma adrenomedullin concentrations in critically ill neonatal foals.. J Vet Intern Med 2014 Jul-Aug;28(4):1294-300.
- Frederick J, Giguère S, Sanchez LC. Infectious agents detected in the feces of diarrheic foals: a retrospective study of 233 cases (2003-2008).. J Vet Intern Med 2009 Nov-Dec;23(6):1254-60.
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- Magdesian KG. Neonatal foal diarrhea.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2005 Aug;21(2):295-312, vi.
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