Atypical Salmonellosis in a Horse: Implications for Hospital Safety.
Abstract: A 17-year-old Quarter Horse mare was evaluated for colic of 24-hour duration. Clinical signs and diagnostic evaluation were consistent with duodenitis-proximal jejunitis. The horse's clinical condition deteriorated despite medical treatment and was euthanized. Aerobic culture collected from small intestinal ingesta was positive for subsp. serovar Hadar. sp. is commonly implicated in nosocomial infections in equine veterinary hospitals usually through feces containing the organism. Considering sp. was cultured from the jejunal luminal contents and the large volume of nasogastric reflux that was evacuated in this case, a perceived risk of sp. transmission from infected gastric reflux to other hospitalized cases was realized. Infectious agent biosecurity precautions should be undertaken in horses with nasogastric reflux to prevent hospital-acquired transmission.
Copyright © 2020 Kristina L. Rothers et al.
Publication Date: 2020-06-04 PubMed ID: 32566354PubMed Central: PMC7292965DOI: 10.1155/2020/7062408Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article presents a case study of an atypical Salmonellosis infection in a 17-year-old horse and discusses the implications for safety in veterinary hospitals.
Background
- The research involves a case study involving a 17-year-old Quarter Horse mare, which was undergoing evaluation for colic that had lasted for 24 hours.
- The horse’s condition deteriorated despite medical treatment and it had to be euthanized.
- Salmonellosis is a disease caused by the Salmonella bacteria and is usually associated with contaminated food or water. However, in this case, the infection was atypical.
Clinical Findings
- The clinical signs and diagnostic evaluation of the mare were consistent with duodenitis-proximal jejunitis, which is an inflammation of the small intestine usually caused by bacterial infections, parasites, or exposure to toxins.
- The mare’s condition worsened despite any medical treatment attempts, leading to the decision to euthanize the animal.
Bacteriological Findings
- An aerobic culture was collected from the mare’s small intestinal ingesta or partially digested food. The culture tested positive for Salmonella subsp. serovar Hadar, a strain of the Salmonella bacteria.
- Salmonella bacteria exist in many strains and are responsible for causing various diseases in humans and animals.
Safety Implications
- The research highlighted the potential risk of Salmonella transmission in veterinary hospitals, as the bacteria was cultured from the intestinal contents of the mare and due to a large volume of evacuated nasogastric reflux.
- Salmonella is often found in feces and can be easily transmitted in hospitals through unhygienic practices or lax security measures.
- Accordingly, the study highlights the need for adequate biosecurity measures, especially in instances where horses demonstrate nasogastric reflux, to prevent hospital-acquired transmission of infectious agents.
Cite This Article
APA
Rothers KL, Hackett ES, Mason GL, Nelson BB.
(2020).
Atypical Salmonellosis in a Horse: Implications for Hospital Safety.
Case Rep Vet Med, 2020, 7062408.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/7062408 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, 300 West Drake Road, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, 300 West Drake Road, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Colorado State University, 300 West Lake Road, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, 300 West Drake Road, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this case report. The authors are all employed by Colorado State University, and work was performed under this employment.
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Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Kabir A, Kelley WG, Glover C, Erol E, Helmy YA. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of antimicrobial resistance and virulence profiles of Salmonella enterica serotypes isolated from necropsied horses in Kentucky. Microbiol Spectr 2025 Mar 4;13(3):e0250124.
- Haywood LMB, Sheahan BJ. A Review of Epithelial Ion Transporters and Their Roles in Equine Infectious Colitis. Vet Sci 2024 Oct 7;11(10).
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