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Ecology of Rhodococcus equi in horses and their environment on horse-breeding farms.
Abstract: Quantitative culture of R. equi in the feces of dams and foals, in the air of the stalls and in the soil of the paddocks was carried out on three horse-breeding farms during the foaling season. The isolation rates of R. equi from the feces of dams from the 3 farms suddenly increased to approximately 80% at the end of March, when the snow in the paddocks finished melting, and remained at that level during April and May. The mean number of R. equi and the isolation rate of R. equi from the feces of dams on the farms were investigated for 5 weeks before and 5 weeks after delivery. During the 10 weeks, there were no differences in the isolation rate or in the mean number of R. equi from the feces of dams. R. equi was first isolated from the feces of the foals born in February and the middle of March at 3-4 weeks of age, on the other hand, it was first isolated from the feces of foals born in the end of March and April at 1-2 weeks of age. The number of R. equi in the soil collected from the paddocks used by dams during the winter was approximately 10(2)-10(4) g-1 of soil during the experiment. R. equi was isolated from the air in the stalls at the end of March and the number of R. equi in the air increased particularly on dry and windy days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Publication Date: 1987-08-01 PubMed ID: 3672865DOI: 10.1016/0378-1135(87)90110-6Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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This study investigates the ecology of Rhodococcus equi in horses and their environment on horse-breeding farms by monitoring its presence in the feces of dams and foals, the air within the stables, and soil in the paddocks during foaling season. Notable findings include a high presence of R. equi in the dams’ feces during late March following snow melt, and a varied occurrence in the foals’ feces depending upon their birth period.
Objective and Methodology
- The aim of the study was to understand how the Rhodococcus equi bacterium, an infectious pathogen in horses, interacts with horse-breeding farms’ environment. Particularly, it focused on the feces of dams (mother horses) and foals (young horses), the air in the stables, and the soil in the paddocks.
- This was achieved by carrying out a quantitative culture of R. equi across three different horse-breeding farms during the foaling season, a particularly vulnerable period for this bacterium’s spread.
Key Findings
- The research found that the isolation rates of R. equi from dams’ feces spiked to 80% towards the end of March, which coincided with the melting of snow in the paddocks, and stayed at that level through April and May.
- The study did not discover any significant differences in R. equi numbers in the feces of the dams five weeks before or after delivery.
- The first exhibition of R. equi in the foals’ feces appeared at different timelines based on their birth dates – around 3-4 weeks for those born in February and mid-March, while 1-2 weeks old for those born in late March or April.
- R. equi was also observed in soil samples from paddocks where dams spent the winter, at a rough count of 10^2 and 10^4 g^-1 during the experimental period.
- There was also detection of R. equi in the stall air at the end of March, with a noted increase on dry and windy days.
Significance of the Study
- This research is significant as it presents important insights into the ecology of Rhodococcus equi in relation to its host environment within horse breeding farms and establishes a potential correlation with seasonal changes. Specifically, the spike in R. equi prevalence following snow melt, and its differing occurrence in foal feces based on the birth period.
- The findings can potentially aid in the prevention and control of R. equi-related diseases in horse-breeding practices and environments.
Cite This Article
APA
Takai S, Fujimori T, Katsuzaki K, Tsubaki S.
(1987).
Ecology of Rhodococcus equi in horses and their environment on horse-breeding farms.
Vet Microbiol, 14(3), 233-239.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-1135(87)90110-6 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Kitasato University, Aomori, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / microbiology
- Environmental Microbiology
- Feces / microbiology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses / microbiology
- Rhodococcus / isolation & purification
Citations
This article has been cited 9 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.
- Kabir A, Lamichhane B, Habib T, Adams A, El-Sheikh Ali H, Slovis NM, Troedsson MHT, Helmy YA. Antimicrobial Resistance in Equines: A Growing Threat to Horse Health and Beyond-A Comprehensive Review. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024 Jul 29;13(8).
- Cohen ND, Kahn SK, Bordin AI, Gonzales GM, da Silveira BP, Bray JM, Legere RM, Ramirez-Cortez SC. Association of pneumonia with concentrations of virulent Rhodococcus equi in fecal swabs of foals before and after intrabronchial infection with virulent R. equi. J Vet Intern Med 2022 May;36(3):1139-1145.
- Vechi HT, Oliveira ETG, Freitas MR, Rossi F, Britto MHMF, Alves MDM. Chronic cavitary pneumonia by Rhodococcus equi in a highly prevalent tuberculosis country: a diagnosis challenge. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2018 Nov 14;60:e74.
- Willsie-Ediger SK, Stanford JF, Salzman GA, Bamberger DM. Spectrum of disease caused by Rhodococcus equi in human immunodeficiency virus infection: Report of a case and review of the literature. Can J Infect Dis 1990 Fall;1(3):101-7.
- Kuskie KR, Smith JL, Wang N, Carter CN, Chaffin MK, Slovis NM, Stepusin RS, Cattoi AE, Takai S, Cohen ND. Effects of location for collection of air samples on a farm and time of day of sample collection on airborne concentrations of virulent Rhodococcus equi at two horse breeding farms. Am J Vet Res 2011 Jan;72(1):73-9.
- Prescott JF, Machang'u R, Kwiecien J, Delaney K. Prevention of foal mortality due to Rhodococcus equi pneumonia on an endemically affected farm. Can Vet J 1989 Nov;30(11):871-5.
- Muscatello G, Anderson GA, Gilkerson JR, Browning GF. Associations between the ecology of virulent Rhodococcus equi and the epidemiology of R. equi pneumonia on Australian thoroughbred farms. Appl Environ Microbiol 2006 Sep;72(9):6152-60.
- Prescott JF. Rhodococcus equi: an animal and human pathogen. Clin Microbiol Rev 1991 Jan;4(1):20-34.
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