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The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2023; 64(12); 1129-1132;

Diagnosis of Potomac horse fever (syn. equine neorickettsiosis) in 2 foals in southwestern Ontario.

Abstract: Potomac horse fever (PHF) is characterized by fever, depression, anorexia, ileus, diarrhea, and occasionally, laminitis. The disease is caused by infection with and/or . Equids of all ages may be affected; however, the condition has not been well-characterized in foals. This report describes clinical signs, laboratory findings, and treatment of 2 foals diagnosed with PHF in southwestern Ontario. Feces submitted for an equine PCR panel tested positive for spp. and were subsequently confirmed to be (Case 1) and (Case 2). Both foals recovered following hospitalization and intensive care. Key clinical message: The purpose of this report is to make veterinarians aware that foals may develop PHF. During summer (July to September), when encountering foals in endemic areas with clinical signs compatible with PHF, veterinarians should consider PHF as a diagnostic rule-out. For confirmation of the diagnosis, blood and feces should be submitted for PCR testing for spp. . La fièvre équine du Potomac (PHF) se caractérise par de la fièvre, une dépression, de l’anorexie, un iléus, de la diarrhée et, occasionnellement, une fourbure. La maladie est causée par une infection par et/ou . Les équidés de tous âges peuvent être atteints; cependant, cette pathologie n’a pas été bien caractérisée chez les poulains. Ce rapport décrit les signes cliniques, les résultats de laboratoire et le traitement de 2 poulains diagnostiqués avec PHF dans le sud-ouest de l’Ontario. Les matières fécales soumises à un panel PCR équin se sont révélées positives pour spp. et ont ensuite été confirmées comme étant positives pour (cas 1) et (cas 2). Les deux poulains se sont rétablis après une hospitalisation et des soins intensifs.Message clinique clé :Le but de ce rapport est de sensibiliser les vétérinaires au fait que les poulains peuvent développer une PHF. Pendant l’été (juillet à septembre), lorsqu’ils rencontrent des poulains dans des zones d’endémie présentant des signes cliniques compatibles avec le PHF, les vétérinaires doivent considérer le PHF comme une exclusion diagnostique. Pour confirmer le diagnostic, du sang et des selles doivent être soumis à un test PCR pour spp.(Traduit par D Serge Messier).
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Publication Date: 2023-12-04 PubMed ID: 38046433PubMed Central: PMC10637704
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Summary

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This research article reports two cases of Potomac horse fever amongst foals in southwestern Ontario in an effort to alert veterinarians about the possibility of this ailment in young horses.

Plain Language Overview

Potomac horse fever (PHF) is a disease that is usually found in equines like horses and donkeys. Although this infection can affect equids of all ages, it has not been adequately studied in young horses, specifically foals. This paper discusses two instances of PHF in foals in Ontario’s southwestern region, including their symptoms, laboratory results, and treatment. The findings suggest that veterinarians should consider PHF when examining foals in regions where the disease is common, especially during the summer months.

Potomac Horse Fever (PHF)

  • PHF is marked by a number of symptoms such as fever, depression, loss of appetite, cessation of bowel movements, diarrhea, and at times, inflammation of the laminae in the feet leading to severe pain and changes in gait.
  • The disease is triggered by specific bacterial infections, namingly Neorickettsia spp.. The paper indicates that the particular species found in the two foals were N. risticii and N. sennetsu.

PHF in Foals in Southwestern Ontario

  • The researchers present the clinical signs and laboratory findings alongside the treatments used for the two PHF diagnosed foals.
  • Both of the foals’ conditions improved following a period of intensive care in a clinic.

Key Clinical Message

  • The main aim of this report is to increase awareness amongst veterinarians about the possibility of foals developing PHF.
  • Veterinarians are advised to consider PHF as a potential diagnosis when examining foals showing signs of the disease from July to September, in regions where the condition is already prevalent.
  • The paper highlights the importance of blood and fecal samples for a conclusive diagnosis of PHF through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for the presence of Neorickettsia spp..

Cite This Article

APA
Fortin-Trahan R, Sjolin E, Lack A, de Arbina CL, McFadden-Bennett A, Wang L, Baird JD, Rikihisa Y, Arroyo LG. (2023). Diagnosis of Potomac horse fever (syn. equine neorickettsiosis) in 2 foals in southwestern Ontario. Can Vet J, 64(12), 1129-1132.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 64
Issue: 12
Pages: 1129-1132

Researcher Affiliations

Fortin-Trahan, Rosalie
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Fortin-Trahan, Sjolin, Lack, Baird, Arroyo); 1165 Highway 8, Sheffield, Ontario L0R 1Z0 (Lopez de Arbina); 455 Dobbie Drive, Unit 2, Cambridge, Ontario N1T 1T1 (McFadden-Bennett); Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular, and Environmental Rickettsiology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1900 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA (Wang, Rikihisa).
Sjolin, Erika
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Fortin-Trahan, Sjolin, Lack, Baird, Arroyo); 1165 Highway 8, Sheffield, Ontario L0R 1Z0 (Lopez de Arbina); 455 Dobbie Drive, Unit 2, Cambridge, Ontario N1T 1T1 (McFadden-Bennett); Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular, and Environmental Rickettsiology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1900 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA (Wang, Rikihisa).
Lack, Amy
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Fortin-Trahan, Sjolin, Lack, Baird, Arroyo); 1165 Highway 8, Sheffield, Ontario L0R 1Z0 (Lopez de Arbina); 455 Dobbie Drive, Unit 2, Cambridge, Ontario N1T 1T1 (McFadden-Bennett); Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular, and Environmental Rickettsiology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1900 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA (Wang, Rikihisa).
de Arbina, Cristina Lopez
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Fortin-Trahan, Sjolin, Lack, Baird, Arroyo); 1165 Highway 8, Sheffield, Ontario L0R 1Z0 (Lopez de Arbina); 455 Dobbie Drive, Unit 2, Cambridge, Ontario N1T 1T1 (McFadden-Bennett); Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular, and Environmental Rickettsiology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1900 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA (Wang, Rikihisa).
McFadden-Bennett, Amy
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Fortin-Trahan, Sjolin, Lack, Baird, Arroyo); 1165 Highway 8, Sheffield, Ontario L0R 1Z0 (Lopez de Arbina); 455 Dobbie Drive, Unit 2, Cambridge, Ontario N1T 1T1 (McFadden-Bennett); Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular, and Environmental Rickettsiology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1900 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA (Wang, Rikihisa).
Wang, Lidan
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Fortin-Trahan, Sjolin, Lack, Baird, Arroyo); 1165 Highway 8, Sheffield, Ontario L0R 1Z0 (Lopez de Arbina); 455 Dobbie Drive, Unit 2, Cambridge, Ontario N1T 1T1 (McFadden-Bennett); Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular, and Environmental Rickettsiology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1900 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA (Wang, Rikihisa).
Baird, John D
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Fortin-Trahan, Sjolin, Lack, Baird, Arroyo); 1165 Highway 8, Sheffield, Ontario L0R 1Z0 (Lopez de Arbina); 455 Dobbie Drive, Unit 2, Cambridge, Ontario N1T 1T1 (McFadden-Bennett); Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular, and Environmental Rickettsiology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1900 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA (Wang, Rikihisa).
Rikihisa, Yasuko
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Fortin-Trahan, Sjolin, Lack, Baird, Arroyo); 1165 Highway 8, Sheffield, Ontario L0R 1Z0 (Lopez de Arbina); 455 Dobbie Drive, Unit 2, Cambridge, Ontario N1T 1T1 (McFadden-Bennett); Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular, and Environmental Rickettsiology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1900 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA (Wang, Rikihisa).
Arroyo, Luis G
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Fortin-Trahan, Sjolin, Lack, Baird, Arroyo); 1165 Highway 8, Sheffield, Ontario L0R 1Z0 (Lopez de Arbina); 455 Dobbie Drive, Unit 2, Cambridge, Ontario N1T 1T1 (McFadden-Bennett); Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular, and Environmental Rickettsiology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1900 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA (Wang, Rikihisa).

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Ontario
  • Anaplasmataceae Infections / diagnosis
  • Anaplasmataceae Infections / veterinary
  • Anaplasmataceae Infections / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Neorickettsia risticii / genetics
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / veterinary

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