Equine neonatal septicaemia: 24 cases.

The research article presents a study on equine neonatal septicaemia – a bacterial bloodstream infection – in 24 foals. The researchers explored its clinical manifestations, causative bacteria, and impact on survival rate.

Study Overview and Methodology

• The study was conducted on 24 foals hospitalized at the Rural Veterinary Centre between 1989 and 1992. These foals were suspected to have septicaemia, a severe infection caused by the presence and persistence of pathogenic bacteria in the bloodstream.
• Confirmation of septicaemia was performed by culturing bacteria from the blood of live foals or tissues obtained naturally (after death) or artificially through euthanasia.

Findings: Isolated Bacteria and Clinical Manifestations

• Pathogenic bacteria primarily responsible for the condition were identified as Enterobacteriaceae, (including Escherichia coli and Salmonella serovars) and Actinobacillus equuli.
• Clinical symptoms of septicaemia were observed to include depression, dehydration, body temperature abnormalities, and signs of localized infection such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, and septic arthritis.
• The most common blood abnormalities in affected foals were neutropenia (low count of neutrophils, a type of white blood cells) and an elevated number of circulating band neutrophils (immature neutrophils).

Survival Rate and Contributing Factors

• The researchers discovered the survival rate of foals with confirmed septicaemia to be 70.8%.
• Decreased survival was associated with the presence of pneumonia, severe depressive signs, significant haematological changes or septic arthritis at the time of admission.

Septic Arthritis in Foals

• Seven foals were confirmed to have septic arthritis, an inflammation of the joint caused by a bacterial infection, without concurrent septicaemia.
• Salmonella serovars were identified as the predominant bacteria in the infected joints, and multiple joint involvement was present in four foals.
• Four foals with septic arthritis failed to survive, their deaths attributed to the unresponsiveness of multiple joint infection to treatment.

Comparison with Other Studies

• The clinical and haematological abnormalities observed were found to be consistent with the findings of other studies.
• The isolated bacteria from foals with confirmed septicaemia matched those found in other studies. However, the bacteria isolated in cases of septic arthritis without concurrent septicaemia, varied from other studies.