Extrapulmonary disorders associated with Rhodococcus equi infection in foals: 150 cases (1987-2007).
Abstract: To describe frequency, types, and clinical outcomes of extrapulmonary disorders (EPDs) in foals in which Rhodococcus equi infection was diagnosed, and to identify factors determined at the time of admission that differentiated foals that developed EPDs from foals with R equi infection identified only in the lungs. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 150 foals aged 3 weeks to 6 months with a diagnosis of R equi infection. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for information on date of admission, signalment, history, clinical signs, diagnostic testing, treatment, duration of hospitalization, invoice, and outcome. For each EPD identified, further information was collected on the identification, location, treatment, and outcome of the lesion. Results: Of 150 foals with R equi infections, 111 (74%) had at least 1 of 39 EPDs. Survival was significantly higher among foals without EPDs (32/39 [82%]) than among foals with EPDs (48/111 [43%]), but many EPDs were only recognized after death. Risk factors significantly associated with EPDs included referral status, duration of clinical signs prior to admission, leukocytosis, and neutrophilia. Foals with EPDs also had a higher heart rate and BUN concentration than foals without. Conclusions: Practitioners should recognize that extrapulmonary manifestations of R equi occur with high prevalence affecting diverse organ systems, that multiple systems are generally affected when EPDs occur, and that suspicion of R equi infection should prompt evaluation and monitoring of extrapulmonary sites. Improved recognition of the presence of these disorders will help practitioners to better advise their clients in the treatment and outcome of foals with R equi infections.
Publication Date: 2009-10-02 PubMed ID: 19793018DOI: 10.2460/javma.235.7.855Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research study investigates the extrapulmonary disorders (diseases outside the lungs) in foals (young horses) infected with Rhodococcus equi bacteria, their frequencies, types, outcomes, and risk factors. The study found that diseases outside the lungs occur with high prevalence when a foal is infected with R equi.
Objective and Methods
- The study aimed to explain the frequency, type and outcomes of diseases outside of the lungs of foals in which R equi infection was diagnosed, and to identify factors that differentiated foals that developed such diseases from foals whose R equi infection was only in the lungs.
- For this retrospective case series, the researchers analyzed the medical records of 150 foals aged between 3 weeks and 6 months diagnosed with R equi infection.
- The medical records included information on the date of admission, signalment (age, breed, sex, and species), history, clinical signs, diagnostic testing, treatment, duration of hospitalization, invoice, and outcome.
- Additional data was collected for each extrapulmonary disorder identified, related to the detection, location, treatment, and outcome of the lesion.
Results
- Out of the 150 foals with R equi infections, 111 (74%) had at least one of 39 identified diseases outside the lungs.
- Survival rates were significantly higher among foals without extrapulmonary disorders (82%) than among those with such disorders (43%). However, many of these disorders were only recognized posthumously.
- Risk factors significantly associated with diseases outside the lungs included referral status, duration of clinical symptoms prior to hospital admission, leukocytosis (increase in the number of white blood cells), and neutrophilia (high level of a certain white blood cell).
- Foals with extrapulmonary disorders also had higher heart rates and BUN (blood urea nitrogen) concentration, an indicator of kidney health, compared to foals without such conditions.
Conclusions
- The researchers concluded that extrapulmonary manifestations of R equi infections are commonly found and can affect multiple organ systems in foals.
- This research has important implications for veterinarians. It indicates that when there is suspicion of R equi infection, an evaluation and monitoring of extrapulmonary sites are also necessary.
- Improving the recognition of these disorders will help the practitioners to provide better advice to their clients on treatment and outcomes for foals with R equi infections.
Cite This Article
APA
Reuss SM, Chaffin MK, Cohen ND.
(2009).
Extrapulmonary disorders associated with Rhodococcus equi infection in foals: 150 cases (1987-2007).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 235(7), 855-863.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.235.7.855 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Abdominal Abscess / complications
- Abdominal Abscess / microbiology
- Abdominal Abscess / veterinary
- Actinomycetales Infections / complications
- Actinomycetales Infections / microbiology
- Actinomycetales Infections / mortality
- Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
- Animals
- Central Nervous System Diseases / complications
- Central Nervous System Diseases / microbiology
- Central Nervous System Diseases / veterinary
- Gastrointestinal Diseases / complications
- Gastrointestinal Diseases / microbiology
- Gastrointestinal Diseases / veterinary
- Hematologic Diseases / complications
- Hematologic Diseases / microbiology
- Hematologic Diseases / veterinary
- Hepatitis, Animal / complications
- Hepatitis, Animal / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Lymphadenitis / complications
- Lymphadenitis / microbiology
- Lymphadenitis / veterinary
- Musculoskeletal Diseases / complications
- Musculoskeletal Diseases / microbiology
- Musculoskeletal Diseases / veterinary
- Peritonitis / complications
- Peritonitis / microbiology
- Peritonitis / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Rhodococcus equi
- Uveitis / complications
- Uveitis / microbiology
- Uveitis / veterinary
Citations
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