Epidemiologic study of salmonellae shedding in the feces of horses and potential risk factors for development of the infection in hospitalized horses.
Abstract: A study was designed to identify epidemiologic factors associated with the development and spread of salmonellae in horses in a veterinary teaching hospital, through a case-control study and a longitudinal follow-up prospective study. In the case-control study, 44 horses shedding salmonellae in feces were compared with 99 control horses not shedding salmonellae in feces; regarding breed, sex, age and initial diagnosis, none of the odds ratios for study factors was significant. The factors found to be associated with fecal shedding of salmonellae in the prospective study included diarrhea at the time of admission to the hospital, fever while hospitalized, and a change in diet while hospitalized. Horses identified to be shedding salmonellae in feces were not limited to those with clinical signs of salmonellosis; however, spread of salmonellae from a shedder without clinical signs of disease to other hospitalized horses was not identified. The most common serovars of Salmonella isolated were oranienburg and newport.
Publication Date: 1990-05-15 PubMed ID: 2347754
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research focuses on identifying the factors that contribute to the spread of salmonellae (the bacteria causing salmonellosis) in horses, particularly within a veterinary hospital setting. The study found that symptoms like diarrhea upon admission, fever during hospitalization, and a diet change while in the hospital increased the likelihood of salmonellae shedding in horse feces.
Research Methodology
- The study used a two-pronged approach: a case-control study and a longitudinal follow-up prospective study.
- In the case-control study, the researchers compared 44 horses that were shedding salmonellae in their feces with 99 control horses that were not. The factors they compared included the horses’ breed, sex, age, and initial diagnosis.
- In the prospective study, the researchers followed the horses over time to see whether certain factors were associated with fecal shedding of salmonellae.
Key Findings
- The case-control study found no significant association between the shedding of salmonellae and the studied factors: breed, sex, age, and initial diagnosis.
- The prospective study found that horses that exhibited diarrhea at admission, developed a fever while hospitalized, or underwent a change in diet while in the hospital were more likely to shed salmonellae in their feces.
- Horses that were shedding salmonellae were not necessarily showing clinical signs of salmonellosis. The researchers did not find evidence of these so-called “silent shedders” transmitting the bacteria to other hospitalized horses.
- The most common types of Salmonella found in the study were the serovars oranienburg and newport.
Conclusions
- The study contributes valuable insights into the epidemiology of salmonellae infection in horses. In particular, it calls attention to the factors that might increase the risk of salmonellae infection in a hospital setting.
- The unexpected finding that “silent shedders” do not seem to transmit the infection to other horses challenges the assumption that only horses showing clinical signs of disease can spread the infection.
- This research could inform preventive measures within veterinary hospitals to minimize the risk of salmonellae infection among hospitalized horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Traub-Dargatz JL, Salman MD, Jones RL.
(1990).
Epidemiologic study of salmonellae shedding in the feces of horses and potential risk factors for development of the infection in hospitalized horses.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 196(10), 1617-1622.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Carrier State / epidemiology
- Carrier State / veterinary
- Case-Control Studies
- Colorado / epidemiology
- Cross Infection / etiology
- Cross Infection / veterinary
- Diarrhea / complications
- Diarrhea / veterinary
- Diet
- Feces / microbiology
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Hospitals, Animal
- Interviews as Topic
- Longitudinal Studies
- Male
- Prospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Salmonella / isolation & purification
- Salmonella Infections, Animal / epidemiology
- Salmonella Infections, Animal / etiology
- Surveys and Questionnaires
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Amory H, Cesarini C, De Maré L, Loublier C, Moula N, Detilleux J, Saulmont M, Garigliany MM, Lecoq L. Relationship between the Cycle Threshold Value (Ct) of a Salmonella spp. qPCR Performed on Feces and Clinical Signs and Outcome in Horses. Microorganisms 2023 Jul 30;11(8).
- Burgess BA, Morley PS. Risk factors for shedding of Salmonella enterica among hospitalized large animals over a 10-year period in a veterinary teaching hospital. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Sep;33(5):2239-2248.
- Sanz MG, Kwon S, Pusterla N, Gold JR, Bain F, Evermann J. Evaluation of equine coronavirus fecal shedding among hospitalized horses. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Mar;33(2):918-922.
- Manship AJ, Blikslager AT, Elfenbein JR. Disease features of equine coronavirus and enteric salmonellosis are similar in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Mar;33(2):912-917.
- Hoelzer K, Moreno Switt AI, Wiedmann M. Animal contact as a source of human non-typhoidal salmonellosis. Vet Res 2011 Feb 14;42(1):34.
- Rankin SC, Aceto H, Cassidy J, Holt J, Young S, Love B, Tewari D, Munro DS, Benson CE. Molecular characterization of cephalosporin-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype Newport isolates from animals in Pennsylvania. J Clin Microbiol 2002 Dec;40(12):4679-84.
- Weese JS, Baird JD, Poppe C, Archambault M. Emergence of Salmonella typhimurium definitive type 104 (DT104) as an important cause of salmonellosis in horses in Ontario. Can Vet J 2001 Oct;42(10):788-92.
- Ravary B, Fecteau G, Higgins R, Paré J, Lavoie JP. [Control measures for contagious enteric diseases in a veterinary teaching hospital]. Can Vet J 1999 Dec;40(12):871-7.
- Ravary B, Fecteau G, Higgins R, Paré J, Lavoie JP. [Prevalence of infections caused by Salmonella spp. in cattle and horses at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Montreal]. Can Vet J 1998 Sep;39(9):566-72.
- Simó-Martínez MS, Marco-Fuertes A, Galán-Relaño Á, Astorga Márquez RJ, Marin C, Valero Díaz A, Vega S. Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Salmonella in Asymptomatic Horses in Eastern Spain: A One Health Perspective. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 26;15(23).
- Haywood LMB, Sheahan BJ. A Review of Epithelial Ion Transporters and Their Roles in Equine Infectious Colitis. Vet Sci 2024 Oct 7;11(10).
- 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).
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