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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Infectious agents detected in the feces of diarrheic foals: ...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2009; 23(6); 1254-1260; doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2009.0383.x

Infectious agents detected in the feces of diarrheic foals: a retrospective study of 233 cases (2003-2008).

Abstract: Diarrhea is common in foals but there are no studies investigating the relative prevalence of common infectious agents in a population of hospitalized diarrheic foals. Objective: To determine the frequency of detection of infectious agents in a population of hospitalized foals with diarrhea and to determine if detection of specific pathogens is associated with age, outcome, or clinicopathologic data. Methods: Two hundred and thirty-three foals < or = 10 months of age with diarrhea examined at a referral institution. Methods: Retrospective case series. Each foal was examined for Salmonella spp., viruses, Clostridium difficile toxins, Clostridium perfringens culture, C. perfringens enterotoxin, Cryptosporidium spp., and metazoan parasites in feces collected at admission or at the onset of diarrhea. Results: At least 1 infectious agent was detected in 122 foals (55%). Rotavirus was most frequently detected (20%) followed by C. perfringens (18%), Salmonella spp. (12%), and C. difficile (5%). Foals 1 month of age were significantly more likely to have Salmonella spp. (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.2-6.0), rotavirus (OR = 13.3, 95% CI = 5.3-33), and parasites (OR = 23, 95% CI = 3.1-185) detected compared with younger foals. Overall 191 of the 223 foals (87%) survived. The type of infectious agent identified in the feces or bacteremia was not significantly associated with survival. Conclusions: In the population studied, foals with diarrhea had a good prognosis regardless of which infectious agent was identified in the feces.
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Publication Date: 2009-09-11 PubMed ID: 19747192PubMed Central: PMC7166729DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2009.0383.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research study investigates the prevalence of common infectious agents in the feces of hospitalized foals suffering from diarrhea and explores whether the detection of specific pathogens is associated with the age, outcome, or clinicopathologic data of these foals.

Objective and Methodology

  • The researchers wanted to ascertain the frequency of detection of infectious agents in a population of hospitalized foals with diarrhea, and to explore if the discovery of specific pathogens is linked to factors such as age, outcome, or clinicopathologic data.
  • They studied a retrospective case series of 233 foals, all 10 months of age or younger, that showed symptoms of diarrhea and were examined at a referral institution.
  • Each foal’s feces were examined for a variety of infectious agents: Salmonella spp., viruses, Clostridium difficile toxins, Clostridium perfringens culture, C. perfringens enterotoxin, Cryptosporidium spp., and metazoan parasites. The samples were collected either at admission or at the onset of diarrhea.

Results

  • In 55% of the foals, at least one infectious agent was detected. The most frequently detected was Rotavirus (20%), followed by C. perfringens (18%), Salmonella spp. (12%), and C. difficile (5%).
  • Foals under 1 month of age were significantly more likely to test positive for C. perfringens or show negative fecal diagnostic results than older foals. Conversely, foals over 1 month old were significantly more likely to test positive for Salmonella spp., rotavirus, and parasites compared with younger foals.
  • Out of the 223 foals, 87% survived, indicating a good prognosis for foals with diarrhea. The type of infectious agent found in the feces had no significant association with survival.

Conclusions

  • Based on the study’s findings, it was concluded that foals with diarrhea generally have a good prognosis, irrespective of the infectious agent identified in their feces.

Cite This Article

APA
Frederick J, Giguère S, Sanchez LC. (2009). Infectious agents detected in the feces of diarrheic foals: a retrospective study of 233 cases (2003-2008). J Vet Intern Med, 23(6), 1254-1260. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2009.0383.x

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 0891-6640
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 23
Issue: 6
Pages: 1254-1260

Researcher Affiliations

Frederick, J
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Giguère, S
    Sanchez, L C

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Diarrhea / microbiology
      • Diarrhea / veterinary
      • Feces / microbiology
      • Gastrointestinal Diseases / microbiology
      • Gastrointestinal Diseases / veterinary
      • Horse Diseases / blood
      • Horse Diseases / microbiology
      • Horses
      • Retrospective Studies
      • Sepsis / blood
      • Sepsis / microbiology
      • Sepsis / veterinary

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