Diarrhea associated with enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis in foals.
Abstract: Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) was isolated from the feces of 10 of 40 Thoroughbred foals with naturally acquired diarrhea. Of the 10 foals positive for ETBF, 6 were less than or equal to 7 days old. Fecal specimens from 4 of the 10 foals also were positive for rotavirus, and one fecal specimen was positive for Salmonella enteritidis. Clinical or hematologic differences were not evident between foals infected with ETBF only and those infected with ETBF and another recognized enteric pathogen. Only 1 of 10 foals infected with ETBF died. Of 25 adult rabbits with ligated ceca, 23 developed mucoid, often hemorrhagic, diarrhea after inoculation of 5 X 10(9) viable ETBF cells into the ileum. Nine of 13 (69%) rabbits inoculated with 1 of 3 isolates of ETBF died, but none of 12 inoculated with 1 of 6 other isolates of ETBF died. Enteric disease did not develop in 15 rabbits inoculated with nonenterotoxigenic B fragilis.
Publication Date: 1987-11-01 PubMed ID: 3434899
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
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This research article investigates the occurrence of diarrhea in thoroughbred foals associated with Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides Fragilis (ETBF). The study reveals clinical evidence of ETBF causing digestive health issues in both foals and rabbits.
Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides Fragilis in Foals
- The study analyzed feces samples from 40 thoroughbred foals experiencing diarrhea. Specifically, it noted the presence of Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides Fragilis (ETBF), a type of bacteria capable of producing toxins that cause intestinal distress.
- ETBF was detected in 10 of the 40 foal samples. The age of six of these affected foals was seven days or less, suggesting that an infection could occur at an early stage in life.
- The research found that some of the foals were also infected by other bacteria, namely rotavirus and Salmonella enteritidis, alongside ETBF. However, no considerable difference in clinical or hematologic findings were noted between single-infection cases and mixed-infections, indicating that the ETBF infection behaves independently of other enteric pathogens.
- Despite the infections, the mortality rate was relatively low, with only one death among the 10 foals found to be infected with ETBF.
The Impact of ETBF in Rabbits
- The researchers extended their study to rabbits as well – 25 adult rabbits with ligated ceca, to be exact. Ceca ligation surgery was performed to establish a more targeted site of infection in the rabbits’ digestive system.
- Viable ETBF cells were then inoculated into the rabbits’ ileum causing the majority of them (23 out of 25) to develop symptoms of diarrhea, which was often hemorrhagic and mucoid in nature.
- Nine out of 13 rabbits infected with one of three isolates of ETBF died, highlighting the potential severity of an ETBF infection.
- In contrast, none of the rabbits inoculated with different isolates of ETBF died, suggesting variability in the virulence of different ETBF isolates.
- Rabbits inoculated with nonenterotoxigenic B fragilis did not develop any gastrointestinal disease, implying that the virulence is specific to the enterotoxigenic strain of the bacterium.
Cite This Article
APA
Myers LL, Shoop DS, Byars TD.
(1987).
Diarrhea associated with enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis in foals.
Am J Vet Res, 48(11), 1565-1567.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Research Laboratory, Agricultural Experiment Station, Montana State University, Bozeman 59717.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bacteroides Infections / veterinary
- Bacteroides fragilis
- Diarrhea / microbiology
- Diarrhea / veterinary
- Enterotoxins / toxicity
- Feces / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
Citations
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