Hematuria and leptospiruria in a foal.
Abstract: A Thoroughbred foal that was born after 305 days of gestation was referred 6 hours after birth. On initial examination, the foal was alert, but weak and unable to stand. Heart rate was 150 beats/min, respiratory rate was 48 breaths/min, and rectal temperature was 33 C. Leukocytosis was detected (26,000 WBC/microliters). Dysuria and passage of red urine was observed approximately 30 hours after admission. Urine collected by free catch had a 3+ reaction for blood on dipstick analysis. Examination of Warthin Starry-stained sections of allantochorion revealed organisms morphologically characteristic of leptospira spp along the chorion. Results of direct fluorescent antibody tests on section of placenta were positive for Leptospira spp. Direct fluorescent antibody testing identified leptospires in the urine of the foal. Sera from mare and foal were tested for antibodies against Leptospira spp by use of the microscopic agglutination test. High titers were identified in serum from the mare and foal.
Publication Date: 1993-07-15 PubMed ID: 8407490
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- Case Reports
- Journal Article
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Signs
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Foals
- Heart Rate
- Horses
- Hospitalization
- Infection
- Infectious Disease
- Leptospira
- Microscopic Agglutination Test
- Respiratory Rate
- Urine Analysis
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
Summary
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A Thoroughbred foal was found to be severely weak a few hours after birth, and subsequent tests revealed that the foal was suffering from Leptospira infection, characterised by high white blood cell count, hematuria (blood in urine), and dysuria (painful urination).
Introduction
This research studies a peculiar case of a Thoroughbred foal that was in a weak state from the very beginning of its life. The foal couldn’t stand due to its poor health and had abnormally high heart and respiratory rates. Blood tests showed an elevated white blood cell count, indicative of a potential infection.
Health Complications and Diagnosis
- The foal’s condition worsened approximately 30 hours after admission and this was marked by dysuria and hematuria. Dysuria refers to painful or difficult urination, while hematuria is the presence of blood in urine, indicative of a severe urinary tract problem or infection.
- A dipstick analysis of the urine collected from the foal indicated a strong reaction for the presence of blood. This substantiated the observation of hematuria.
Microbiological Examinations and Findings
- Pathological examination of the stained allantochorion sections, part of the foal’s placenta, revealed the presence of organisms resembling leptospira spp. Leptospira is a genus of bacteria that is often associated with a variety of severe diseases in animals, including leptospirosis.
- Further confirmation of Leptospira infection was made, using a direct fluorescent antibody test.
- This method also identified the presence of Leptospira in the foal’s urine, which highlighted the severity of the infection.
Further Testing and Treatment Outlook
- Following the detection of Leptospira, sera samples from both the mare and the foal were tested for antibodies against this bacterium, using the microscopic agglutination test.
- High titers were found in both mare and foal, indicating an active response against the infection. The bacterial infection could have been passed on from the mare to the foal.
- While the paper does not elaborate on the course of treatment, such infections would typically be treated using appropriate antibiotics.
Cite This Article
APA
Bernard WV, Williams D, Tuttle PA, Pierce S.
(1993).
Hematuria and leptospiruria in a foal.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 203(2), 276-278.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, KY 40580.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
- Bacteriuria / diagnosis
- Bacteriuria / microbiology
- Bacteriuria / veterinary
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Hematuria / diagnosis
- Hematuria / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Leptospira / immunology
- Leptospira / isolation & purification
- Leptospirosis / diagnosis
- Leptospirosis / veterinary
- Placenta / microbiology
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / diagnosis
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Hamond C, Pinna A, Martins G, Lilenbaum W. The role of leptospirosis in reproductive disorders in horses. Trop Anim Health Prod 2014 Jan;46(1):1-10.
- Båverud V, Gunnarsson A, Engvall EO, Franzén P, Egenvall A. Leptospira seroprevalence and associations between seropositivity, clinical disease and host factors in horses. Acta Vet Scand 2009 Mar 30;51(1):15.
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