Diagnostic contribution of thoracic ultrasonography in 17 foals with Rhodococcus equi pneumonia.
Abstract: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the clinical usefulness of thoracic ultrasonography compared to thoracic radiography in evaluation of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia. Criteria for patient inclusion in this study were: (1) isolation of R. equi from transtracheal aspirate, (2) radiographic evaluation of the pulmonary parenchyma, and (3) sonographic evaluation of the pulmonary parenchyma. Seventeen foals met this criteria and their medical records were reviewed. Pyogranulomatous pneumonia was identified radiographically in 13 foals. Severe consolidative pneumonia with no detectable abscessation was identified radiographically in three others. Both consolidation and abscessation were identified radiographically in one. In this foal only consolidation was ultrasonographically identified. Ultrasonographically, pulmonary abscessation was identified in 12 foals and pulmonary consolidation with no detectable abscessation was identified in three others. Sonographic examination allowed detection of only pleural irregularities in one foal, which was subsequently found to have pyogranulomatous pneumonia radiographically. Results indicate that ultrasonography may be an accurate alternative imaging modality for detection of pulmonary pathology attributed to R. equi pneumonia in foals when thoracic radiography is not available.
Publication Date: 2004-04-10 PubMed ID: 15072151DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2004.04028.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Evaluation Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research is a retrospective study examining the effectiveness of thoracic ultrasonography in diagnosing Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals, comparing it to traditional thoracic radiography.
Objectives and Methodology
- The main aim of the study is identifying how thoracic ultrasonography compares to thoracic radiography in the evaluation of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia. Rhodococcus equi pneumonia is a severe lung infection that affects foals.
- This is a retrospective study, meaning the researchers reviewed existing data instead of conducting new experiments or observations.
- The researchers utilized specific candidacy criteria for inclusion in the study: isolation of the bacteria R. equi from a transtracheal aspirate (a sample of fluid from the trachea), radiographic examination of the lung tissue, and sonographic examination of the lung tissue.
- Seventeen foals fit the required criteria and their medical records were assessed for the study.
Findings of the Study
- From the seventeen foals, pyogranulomatous pneumonia, a specific type of lung inflammation, was identified through radiography in thirteen of them.
- Three of the foals had extensive pneumonia without detectable abscesses, which are inflamed areas filled with pus, as identified through radiographic examination.
- The radiographic and ultrasonographic findings for one foal indicated both consolidation (an accumulation of pus in the lungs) and abscessation. However, only consolidation was identified using ultrasonography.
- Using ultrasonography, lung abscesses were identified in twelve foals, while three others showed consolidation with no detectable abscessation.
- Sonographic examination revealed only pleural irregularities in one foal, which was later found through radiography to have pyogranulomatous pneumonia.
Implications of the Results
- The results suggest that ultrasonography might be a reliable alternative diagnostic tool for identifying lung conditions related to R. equi pneumonia in foals.
- This finding is particularly beneficial in settings where thoracic radiography is not readily available, offering another method for diagnosing this particular type of pneumonia.
Cite This Article
APA
Ramirez S, Lester GD, Roberts GR.
(2004).
Diagnostic contribution of thoracic ultrasonography in 17 foals with Rhodococcus equi pneumonia.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 45(2), 172-176.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8261.2004.04028.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100102, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Actinomycetales Infections / diagnostic imaging
- Actinomycetales Infections / epidemiology
- Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Female
- Florida / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Male
- Pneumonia, Bacterial / diagnostic imaging
- Pneumonia, Bacterial / epidemiology
- Pneumonia, Bacterial / veterinary
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Radiography, Thoracic / veterinary
- Records / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Rhodococcus equi
- Ultrasonography / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Villalba-Orero M, Gómez CA, Valero-Gónzalez M, Venegas N, Criado G, Martín-Cuervo M. Blood parameters in neonatal foal and colostrum quality as possible early markers for increased risk of developing Rhodococcus equi pneumonia. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1654052.
- Hardefeldt L, Thomas K, Page S, Norris J, Browning G, El Hage C, Stewart A, Gilkerson J, Muscatello G, Verwilghen D, van Galen G, Bauquier J, Cuming R, Reynolds B, Whittaker C, Wilkes E, Clulow J, Burden C, Begg L. Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for horses in Australia. Aust Vet J 2025 Dec;103(12):781-889.
- Tharwat M, Alkheraif AA, Ali H. Clinical cases of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia in sheep: Retrospective clinical, sonographic, and pathological investigations. Open Vet J 2025 May;15(5):1947-1957.
- Craven A, Todd-Donato A, Stokol T, Liepman R, Glasberg I, Wilkins P, Luethy D, Wong D, Schoster A, van den Brom-Spierenburg AJ, Tomlinson JE. Clinical findings and outcome predictors for multinodular pulmonary fibrosis in horses: 46 cases (2009-2019). J Vet Intern Med 2024 May-Jun;38(3):1842-1857.
- Hepworth-Warren KL, Nelson N, Dembek KA, Young KAS. Comparison of thoracic ultrasonography and thoracic radiography between healthy adult horses and horses with bacterial pneumonia using a novel, objective ultrasonographic scoring system. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:991634.
- Rakowska A, Cywinska A, Witkowski L. Current Trends in Understanding and Managing Equine Rhodococcosis. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 18;10(10).
- Álvarez-Narváez S, Berghaus LJ, Morris ERA, Willingham-Lane JM, Slovis NM, Giguere S, Cohen ND. A Common Practice of Widespread Antimicrobial Use in Horse Production Promotes Multi-Drug Resistance. Sci Rep 2020 Jan 22;10(1):911.
- Kumar A, Saini NS, Mohindroo J, Singh BB, Sangwan V, Sood NK. Comparison of radiography and ultrasonography in the detection of lung and liver cysts in cattle and buffaloes. Vet World 2016 Oct;9(10):1113-1120.
- Madrigal RG, Shaw SD, Witkowski LA, Sisson BE, Blodgett GP, Chaffin MK, Cohen ND. Use of Serial Quantitative PCR of the vapA Gene of Rhodococcus equi in Feces for Early Detection of R. equi Pneumonia in Foals. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Mar-Apr;30(2):664-70.
- Muscatello G, Gilkerson JR, Browning GF. Detection of virulent Rhodococcus equi in exhaled air samples from naturally infected foals. J Clin Microbiol 2009 Mar;47(3):734-7.
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