Cellulitis and subcutaneous abscesses caused by Rhodococcus equi infection in a foal.

This research article discusses a case where a 3-month-old Thoroughbred filly was diagnosed with cellulitis and subcutaneous abscesses caused by Rhodococcus equi infection and successfully treated with erythromycin and rifampin.

Case Presentation

• The article presents a case of a 3-month-old Thoroughbred foal that was found to have cellulitis and subcutaneous abscess formation.
• The clinical signs included a large ulcerated plaque with satellite pustules on the medial aspect of the right hock and subcutaneous abscesses in the right inguinal and mammary gland areas.

Diagnosis Procedure

• The laboratory analysis showed mature neutrophilia, a condition characterised by an increase in the number of neutrophils in the blood, often in response to infection or inflammation.
• The diagnosis was further confirmed when Rhodococcus equi, a bacterium that can cause severe abscessing conditions, especially in foals, was isolated from the cellulitis and the subcutaneous abscess.

Treatment and Outcome

• The foal was treated with oral administration of erythromycin and rifampin for 35 days.
• Erythromycin and rifampin are antibiotics commonly used to treat Rhodococcus equi infections.
• This treatment resulted in a clinical cure, demonstrating its effectiveness in managing the infection.