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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / An updated description of bacterial pneumonia in adult horse...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2024; doi: 10.1111/jvim.17141

An updated description of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses and factors associated with death.

Abstract: Available descriptive studies on equine pneumonia are outdated or focus on specific horse or bacterial populations. Objective: To describe the clinical presentation and bacterial isolates of adult horses with bacterial pneumonia and identify factors associated with death. Methods: One hundred sixteen horses >2 years old with bacterial pneumonia. Methods: Retrospective case series. Data regarding history, physical examination, clinicopathologic features, treatment, bacterial culture and sensitivity, and outcome were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Results: Historical risk factors were present for 60% of cases, whereas abnormal vital signs on intake were present for <50%. Most horses (58%) underwent at least 1 change of antimicrobial treatment, and 67% received the highest-priority critically important antimicrobials. Streptococcus zooepidemicus was the most isolated bacteria (44%), followed by Escherichia coli (19%), Klebsiella spp. (18%), other Streptococcus species (17%), and Bacillus spp. (13%). Fusobacterium spp. were the most common anaerobic isolates (11%). Antimicrobial susceptibility varied widely. Survival to discharge was 73%. Heart rate at presentation (odds ratio [OR] 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.008-1.17, P = .03) and higher creatinine (OR 14.1, 95% CI 1.56-127.6, P = .02) increased the risk of death. Higher lymphocyte count (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.08-0.94, P = .04) reduced risk. Conclusions: Contrasting older literature, Fusobacterium spp. were the most common anaerobes. Streptococcus zooepidemicus remained the most common isolate and was predictably susceptible to penicillin. Antimicrobial susceptibility was otherwise variable and broad applicability is limited as this was a single-center study. Increased risk of death associated with tachycardia and abnormally high serum creatinine concentration is consistent with previous studies.
© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2024-07-15 PubMed ID: 39005215DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17141Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research paper offers an updated view of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses, highlighting the associated risk factors, bacterial causes, and correlations with mortality.

Objective and Methodology

The study aimed to understand the clinical profile of adult horses suffering from bacterial pneumonia and to identify any factors linked with death. The researchers launched a retrospective study using data from 116 horses aged over 2 years with bacterial pneumonia. Information concerning the horses’ medical history, physical examination results, clinical and pathological features, treatment processes, bacterial culture and sensitivity, and final outcomes were collected and assessed.

Historical and Clinical Background

  • The study observed that more than half of the examined cases (60%) were linked with a certain historical risk factor.
  • However, fewer than 50% of the horses had shown any abnormal vital signs during their intake.

Microbial Causes and Antimicrobial Treatments

  • Almost 58% of the horses underwent a change in antimicrobial treatment at least once, and 67% were administered the highest-priority critically important antimicrobials.
  • The most frequently encountered bacteria was Streptococcus zooepidemicus (44% of cases) and followed by Escherichia coli (19%), Klebsiella spp. (18%), other Streptococcus species (17%), and Bacillus spp. (13%).
  • Fusobacterium spp., an anaerobic bacteria type, was the most prevalent anaerobic isolate in 11% of the cases.
  • The susceptibility to the various antimicrobial drugs varied extensively between the individual horses.

Results and Risk Variables

  • The survival rate to discharge was 73%, signifying that a considerable number of horses managed to recover.
  • Certain factors increased the risk of death: a higher heart rate at presentation (with an odds ratio [OR] of 1.08) and elevated levels of creatinine (OR 14.1).
  • Horses with higher quantities of lymphocytes had a decreased risk of death (OR 0.27).

Conclusion

The researchers found several key departures from the existing literature on equine pneumonia, noting the prevalence of Fusobacterium spp., an anaerobic bacteria. While Streptococcus zooepidemicus remained the most isolated bacteria, it consistently responded well to penicillin. The study also reaffirmed the findings of previous research, demonstrating a link between increased mortality risk and elevated heart rates and high serum creatinine concentrations. As this was a single-center study, the broad applicability of these findings is limited.

Cite This Article

APA
Hallowell KL, Hepworth-Warren KL, Dembek K. (2024). An updated description of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses and factors associated with death. J Vet Intern Med. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.17141

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Hallowell, Kimberly L
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Hepworth-Warren, Kate L
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Dembek, Katarzyna
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

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