Actinobacillus suis septicaemia in two foals.

This research article presents a study of two foals, a Hackney filly and an Arabian colt, who developed physical symptoms of weakness and depression due to septicemia caused by Actinobacillus suis, despite having adequate levels of serum IgG. The two isolates of the bacteria showed different sensitivity to antimicrobial treatments.

Case Presentation

• The article describes the symptoms observed in two young foals – a 24-hour-old Hackney filly and a 48-hour-old Arabian colt. The filly presented signs of weakness, depression, poor suck reflex, and harsh lung sounds, whereas the colt developed loose stools and exhibited signs of depression, weakness, and a decrease in appetite.

Diagnosis

• Despite having adequate levels of serum IgG (greater than 800 mg/dl), both foals were found to have severe neutropenia, signaling a potential infection. Blood cultures from both foals later confirmed the presence of the bacteria Actinobacillus suis causing septicemia.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Actinobacillus suis

• The bacterial isolates from each of the two foals demonstrated different susceptibility patterns to antimicrobial agents. It was noted that the isolate from the Arabian colt showed resistance towards commonly used broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. This suggests that treatment plans need to consider the specific antimicrobial susceptibility of each strain of Actinobacillus suis.