Factors associated with Salmonella shedding among equine colic patients at a veterinary teaching hospital.

This study examined the factors that might affect the occurrence of fecal Salmonella shedding in horses hospitalized for colic at a teaching veterinary hospital, and also assessed the impact of probiotics on this shedding and related clinical symptoms.

Objective and Methodology

• The research was a longitudinal study and controlled trial involving 246 horses admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital due to colic.
• The relevant history and medical information of each patient were obtained from their records. Sampling of feces and the environment was carried out for aerobic bacterial culture of Salmonella enterica.
• Out of the entire lot, 51 patients were given a commercially available probiotic while 46 were treated with a placebo. Logistic regression was employed to analyze the data collected.

Results

• Salmonella was found in excreta of 23 patients (9%) at least once during their stay at the hospital.
• It was observed that the horses were more likely to shed Salmonella if they developed diarrhea within 6 hours of hospitalization and their stay extended beyond 8 days. Other factors increasing the chance included development of laminitis during hospitalization, abnormal nasogastric intubation results, leukopenia within 6 hours of hospitalization, and travel time to the hospital exceeding 1 hour.
• Interestingly, the likelihood of horses shedding Salmonella in their feces or the prevalence of clinical signs did not differ amongst horses treated with the probiotic and those given the placebo.

Conclusion

• Based on the results, the researchers concluded that some risk factors were associated with the fecal shedding of Salmonella enterica in equine colic patients admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital.
• They also suggested that monitoring patients and the hospital environment for pathogens, alongside barrier nursing precautions for equine colic patients, would be beneficial practices.
• However, the study also indicated that the use of probiotics did not significantly alter the probability of fecal Salmonella shedding or the presence of clinical signs in such horses.