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The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne1986; 27(5); 213-217;

Corynebacterium equi Infections in Horses, 1958-1984: A Review of 131 Cases.

Abstract: Of 131 cases of Corynebacterium equi infection in horses submitted for necropsy to the Ontario Veterinary College or Veterinary Laboratory Services, OMAF, Guelph, Ontario from 1958 to 1984, 115 were diagnosed as suppurative pneumonia, and of these 55 had associated ulcerative enterocolitis. Only five animals had intestinal involvement without pulmonary lesions. The remaining 11 cases included arthritis/cellulitis, skin abscesses and submandibular lymphadenitis. While the lung, intestine and associated lymph nodes yielded C. equi most frequently, in 21% of cases C. equi was also cultured from parenchymatous organs (spleen, liver or kidney) or blood. Corynebacterium equi infection accounted for 10% of all foals submitted for postmortem examination and 45% of all foals with pneumonia. Affected foals were one to four months of age. Submissions occurred between the months of May and August with a peak during July. There was a significantly greater prevalence of C. equi infection in Standardbreds when compared with other breeds. Of foals in this study, 36% were from farms which had had other horses succumb to this disease. Of the foals with pulmonary involvement, 21% did not have fever or clinical signs referable to the respiratory or gastrointestinal systems, findings which indicated that a large percentage of cases were subclinical.
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Publication Date: 1986-05-01 PubMed ID: 17422658PubMed Central: PMC1680250
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article focuses on a detailed review of 131 recorded cases of Corynebacterium equi infection in horses from 1958 to 1984, revealing disease patterns and common comorbidities. The study also points out a high prevalence in Standardbred horses and associations between disease presentation and age, symptoms, and time of year.

Study Samples and Findings

  • The research study reviews 131 cases of C. equi infection observed in horses in Ontario, Canada, from 1958 to 1984. The horses were presented for post-mortem examinations in Ontario Veterinary College or Veterinary Laboratory Services.
  • 115 cases were diagnosed as suppurative pneumonia, a severe type of lung infection characterized by the formation of pus. Of these, 55 had associated ulcerative enterocolitis, a condition characterized by inflammation and sores in the intestine.
  • Only five horses in the study had intestinal complications without showing lung infections or pulmonary lesions.
  • The rest of the 11 cases were a mixture of diseases that included arthritis, cellulitis, skin abscesses, and submandibular lymphadenitis – a swelling of the lymph nodes under the jaws.

Pathogen Distribution and Disease Prevalence

  • The study reveals that while the lung, intestine, and associated lymph nodes were the most common areas for C. equi presence, in 21% of cases, C. equi was also found in other organs like the spleen, liver, or kidney, as well as in the blood.
  • C. equi infections contributed to 10% of all the post-mortem examinations of foals and accounted for 45% of all foals diagnosed with pneumonia.
  • The most affected victims were young foals aged between one to four months.
  • A rise was noted in disease cases from May to August, peaking in July. There was a significantly greater disease prevalence in Standardbred horses compared to other breeds.
  • Approximately 36% of the affected foals were from farms that previously reported horses succumbing to C. equi infection.

Subclinical Cases of Corynebacterium equi Infection

  • The researchers noted that 21% of foals with lung infections presented no fever or clinical signs related to respiratory or gastrointestinal systems, indicating that a considerable portion of C. equi infections may remain subclinical, i.e., undetected due to lack of observable symptoms.

Overall, the study reveals important insights into the epidemiology of C. equi infections in horses, highlighting the need for increased vigilance, especially in younger foals or farms with previous infection incidences. Since a considerable portion of the disease cases remain subclinical, accurate diagnostic tests are critical to ensure effective control and treatment of C. equi infections in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Zink MC, Yager JA, Smart NL. (1986). Corynebacterium equi Infections in Horses, 1958-1984: A Review of 131 Cases. Can Vet J, 27(5), 213-217.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 27
Issue: 5
Pages: 213-217

Researcher Affiliations

Zink, M C
    Yager, J A
      Smart, N L

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