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Home / Equine Research Bank / PLoS One / Development of septic polysynovitis and uveitis in foals exp...
PloS one2018; 13(2); e0192655; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192655

Development of septic polysynovitis and uveitis in foals experimentally infected with Rhodococcus equi.

Abstract: Rhodococcus equi is one of the most important causes of disease in foals. Infection is typically characterized by pyogranulomatous pneumonia although extrapulmonary infections occur occasionally. Uveitis and polysynovitis have been reported in foals naturally infected with R. equi and are thought to be the result of an immune-mediated process. However, the pathogenesis of these conditions is poorly understood. The objectives of this study were to document the occurrence of uveitis and polysynovitis after experimental infection with R. equi and to determine if these disorders are the direct result of infection at these sites. Foals between 3 and 4 weeks of age were infected intratracheally with virulent R. equi using inocula of 1×108 CFU (high inoculum; n = 16) or 1×107 CFU (low inoculum; n = 12). Foals were monitored twice daily and necropsy was performed 14 days post-infection. Aqueous humor and synovial fluid were collected aseptically and the percentage of affected lung was calculated. The mean (± SD) percentage of affected lung was significantly higher with the high inoculum (31.8 ± 14.6%) than with the low inoculum (14.4 ± 11.4%). Fourteen of 25 foals developed uveitis and 20 of 28 foals developed polysynovitis. R. equi was cultured from the aqueous humor of 11 foals and from the synovial fluid of 14 foals. The risk of development of polysynovitis and protein concentration in the aqueous humor were significantly higher in foals that received the high inoculum. These results indicate that polysynovitis and uveitis are septic complications associated with the severity of lung disease.
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Publication Date: 2018-02-07 PubMed ID: 29415076PubMed Central: PMC5802921DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192655Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 study focuses on the development of uveitis and polysynovitis in foals infected with Rhodococcus equi bacteria, specifically studying if these conditions are a direct result of infection. The severity of lung disease, triggered by the given infective dose, appeared to increase the risk of these complications.

Background and Aims of the Study

  • The primary pathogen under study is Rhodococcus equi, a cause of significant disease in foals, more often leading to pyogranulomatous pneumonia.
  • The infections extend to the eyes and the joints occasionally, leading to conditions like uveitis and polysynovitis, believed to be immunity-mediated.
  • However, understanding the exact progression of the disease to these conditions needs more insight.
  • The study aims to record the occurrence of uveitis and polysynovitis after intentionally infecting foals with R. equi, in order to determine if the infections are direct consequences of the bacteria reaching these sites.

Experimental Design and Findings

  • Foals between 3 and 4 weeks of age were infected intratracheally with virulent R. equi, both in high and low doses.
  • Observation and autopsy were conducted for two weeks post-infection, while sampling fluids from the eyes and the joints.
  • The lung infection was found to be significantly severe in foals infected with the higher bacterial dose.
  • Out of 25 foals, 14 developed uveitis and out of 28, 20 developed polysynovitis.
  • R. equi was cultured from the aqueous humor (eye fluid) of 11 foals and synovial fluid (joint fluid) of 14 foals, suggesting direct infection.
  • The risk of polysynovitis and the protein concentration in the eye fluid were significantly higher in foals given the high inoculum dose.

Study Conclusion

  • The study concludes that the conditions uveitis and polysynovitis are septic complications associated with the severity of the lung disease initiated with R. equi.
  • The severity of lung disease in some way drives the severity of polysynovitis and inflammation in the eyes.

Cite This Article

APA
Huber L, Giguère S, Berghaus LJ, Hanafi A, Vitosh-Sillman S, Czerwinski SL. (2018). Development of septic polysynovitis and uveitis in foals experimentally infected with Rhodococcus equi. PLoS One, 13(2), e0192655. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192655

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 2
Pages: e0192655
PII: e0192655

Researcher Affiliations

Huber, Laura
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America.
Giguère, Steeve
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America.
Berghaus, Londa J
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America.
Hanafi, Amanda
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America.
Vitosh-Sillman, Sarah
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America.
Czerwinski, Sarah L
  • Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America.

MeSH Terms

  • Actinomycetales Infections / microbiology
  • Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / veterinary
  • Rhodococcus equi / pathogenicity
  • Sepsis / microbiology
  • Sepsis / veterinary
  • Synovitis / microbiology
  • Synovitis / veterinary
  • Uveitis / microbiology
  • Uveitis / veterinary
  • Virulence

Conflict of Interest Statement

I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: Steeve Giguere acted as a paid consultant by Merck Animal Health within the past 5 years. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. da Silveira BP, Cohen ND, Lawhon SD, Watson RO, Bordin AI. Protective immune response against Rhodococcus equi: An innate immunity-focused review. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):563-586.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14214pubmed: 39258739google scholar: lookup
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