An outbreak of abortion in mares associated with Salmonella abortusequi infection.
Abstract: An abortion outbreak occurred in a herd of 38 horses, 26 of which were pregnant mares. Twenty-one mares aborted between 5-10 months of gestation. In no case were there indications of impending abortion. Pathoanatomical, histopathological, virological and bacteriological examinations were carried out on 4 aborted fetuses. Histopathology identified Gram-negative bacteria compatible with salmonella in all 4 placentae. By subsequent bacteriological examination Salmonella abortusequi was isolated as the single causative agent in each case. Nonmotile Salmonella abortusequi with antigenic formula 4,12:-:- was isolated from one of the 4 fetuses. The described episode of equine abortion clearly indicates that Salmonella abortusequi has not been eradicated from Europe as previously thought.
Publication Date: 1997-05-01 PubMed ID: 9234017DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1997.tb01674.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research discusses an outbreak of abortion in a herd of horses caused by Salmonella abortusequi, a bacteria believed to be eradicated from Europe, overturning this previous assumption.
Research Context and Background
- The research examines an outbreak of abortions in a herd of thirty-eight horses, out of which twenty-six were pregnant. Of these, twenty-one horses underwent abortion from five to ten months of gestation without any apparent signs forewarning the abortion event.
- This research overturns a previous assumption that Salmonella abortusequi, the bacterium responsible for the abortion, had been eradicated from Europe.
Research Method and Findings
- The researchers investigated four aborted fetuses with an array of scientific examinations, including pathoanatomical, histopathological, virological, and bacteriological examinations.
- The histopathological investigation revealed the presence of Gram-negative bacteria that matched the characteristics of the salmonella strain in all four placentae.
- The bacteriological examination afterwards confirmed that Salmonella abortusequi was indeed the sole communicable pathogen in each scenario. Perhaps most shockingly, the researchers discovered an immobile variant of Salmonella abortusequi with antigenic formula 4,12:-:- in one of the four analyzed fetuses.
Implications of Research
- This research points to Salmonella abortusequi as a severe risk for horse populations, especially pregnant mares, because it causes abortion and was found in this European horse population where it was previously thought to be eradicated.
- The ubiquity and severity of Salmonella abortusequi call for vigilant veterinary practices and ongoing research to minimize the risk and spread of this disease.
Cite This Article
APA
Madić J, Hajsig D, Sostarić B, Curić S, Seol B, Naglić T, Cvetnić Z.
(1997).
An outbreak of abortion in mares associated with Salmonella abortusequi infection.
Equine Vet J, 29(3), 230-233.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1997.tb01674.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Microbiology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
MeSH Terms
- Abortion, Veterinary / epidemiology
- Abortion, Veterinary / microbiology
- Animals
- Croatia / epidemiology
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Necrosis
- Placenta / microbiology
- Placenta / pathology
- Pregnancy
- Salmonella / isolation & purification
- Salmonella Infections, Animal / complications
- Salmonella Infections, Animal / epidemiology
- Salmonella Infections, Animal / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Wang X, Ji Y, Su J, Xue Y, Xi H, Wang Z, Bi L, Zhao R, Zhang H, Yang L, Guo Z, Guan Y, Feng X, Sun C, Lei L, Ur Rahman S, Dong J, Han W, Gu J. Therapeutic Efficacy of Phage P(IZ) SAE-01E2 against Abortion Caused by Salmonella enterica Serovar Abortusequi in Mice. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020 Oct 28;86(22).
- Grandolfo E, Parisi A, Ricci A, Lorusso E, de Siena R, Trotta A, Buonavoglia D, Martella V, Corrente M. High mortality in foals associated with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Abortusequi infection in Italy. J Vet Diagn Invest 2018 May;30(3):483-485.
- Hoelzer K, Moreno Switt AI, Wiedmann M. Animal contact as a source of human non-typhoidal salmonellosis. Vet Res 2011 Feb 14;42(1):34.
- Negi VD, Nagarajan AG, Chakravortty D. A safe vaccine (DV-STM-07) against Salmonella infection prevents abortion and confers protective immunity to the pregnant and new born mice. PLoS One 2010 Feb 10;5(2):e9139.
- Givens MD, Marley MS. Infectious causes of embryonic and fetal mortality. Theriogenology 2008 Aug;70(3):270-85.
- Guo K, Zhang Z, Yang Y, Zhang W, Wang J, Li S, Chu X, Guo W, Liu D, Wang Y, Hu Z, Wang X. Development and Application of an iELISA for the Detection of Antibody against Salmonella Abortusequi. Transbound Emerg Dis 2023;2023:1403180.
- Kabir A, Lamichhane B, Habib T, Adams A, El-Sheikh Ali H, Slovis NM, Troedsson MHT, Helmy YA. Antimicrobial Resistance in Equines: A Growing Threat to Horse Health and Beyond-A Comprehensive Review. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024 Jul 29;13(8).
- Mai Z, Fu H, Miao R, Lu C, Zhang X, Yuan Z, Ji P, Hua Y, Wang C, Ma Y, Deng H, Wei Y. Serological investigation and isolation of Salmonella abortus equi in horses in Xinjiang. BMC Vet Res 2024 Mar 15;20(1):103.
- Guo K, Guo W, Liu D, Zhang W, Yang Y, Zhang Z, Li S, Wang J, Chu X, Wang Y, Hu Z, Wang X. Development and application of a competitive ELISA for the detection of antibodies against Salmonella Abortusequi in equids. J Clin Microbiol 2023 Nov 21;61(11):e0027323.
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