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The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2020; 61(12); 1307-1311;

Isolation of Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus from an abdominal abscess in an adult mare.

Abstract: A 12-year-old Warmblood mare was referred for evaluation of behavioral changes not explained by general physical examination or lameness evaluation. Transrectal ultrasound examination was performed to determine if the behavioral changes were related to ovarian abnormalities, and a large abscess was found near the base of the cecum. Laparoscopic-guided aspiration and lavage of the abscess cavity followed by injection of benzyl penicillin G was carried out. Culture of the lavage sample yielded subspecies , an organism not previously reported as an etiological agent in abdominal abscesses in horses. The mare was treated after surgery with an extended course of antibiotics (minocycline q12h for 10 days followed by enrofloxacin q24h for 42 days). The mare resumed work in competitive eventing 10 months after surgery, and the behavioral complaints had resolved according to the owner. Key clinical message: We describe the diagnosis and treatment of a mare with an abdominal abscess from which subspecies was cultured. This organism has not previously been reported as an etiological agent in abdominal abscesses in horses. . Une jument Warmblood âgée de 12 ans fut référée pour évaluation de changements de comportement non-expliqués par un examen physique général ou une évaluation de boiterie. Un examen échographique transrectal fut effectué afin de déterminer si les changements de comportement étaient reliées à des anomales ovariennes et un large abcès fut trouvé près de la base du caecum. Une aspiration guidée par laparoscopie et un lavage de la cavité de l’abcès suivis d’une injection de benzyle pénicilline G furent effectués. Une culture de l’échantillon de lavage permis d’identifier sous-espèce , un organisme n’ayant pas été rapporté antérieurement comme agent étiologique dans les abcès abdominaux chez les chevaux. La jument fut traitée après la chirurgie avec un régime prolongé d’antibiotiques (minocycline q12h pour 10 jours suivi d’enrofloxacine q24h pour 42 jours). La jument recommença à travailler dans des compétitions 10 mois après la chirurgie et les plaintes concernant le comportement étaient résolues selon le propriétaire.Message clinique clé:Nous décrivons le diagnostic et le traitement d’une jument avec un abcès abdominal à partir duquel on isola sous-espèce . Cet organisme n’a pas été rapporté antérieurement comme agent étiologique dans les abcès abdominaux chez les chevaux.(Traduit par D Serge Messier).
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Publication Date: 2020-12-11 PubMed ID: 33299249PubMed Central: PMC7659885
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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 article describes a unique case where a 12-year-old Warmblood mare had an abdominal abscess caused by the Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus, an organism never before associated with abdominal abscesses in horses. The study details the diagnosis and subsequent successful treatment using antibiotics and surgical techniques.

Case Presentation

  • The subject of the study is a 12-year-old Warmblood mare that was presented with unexplained behavioral changes.
  • Physical and lameness evaluations could not explain the observed behavior, prompting further investigation through a transrectal ultrasound examination.
  • The ultrasound revealed a large abscess near the base of the cecum, which is a part of the large intestine.

Diagnostic Procedures

  • A laparoscopic-guided aspiration and lavage were performed. This technique involves the insertion of a thin, lighted tube with a camera, known as a laparoscope, into the body, allowing the surgeons to drain and wash out the abscess cavity.
  • Benzyl penicillin G was also injected into the cavity. This is a type of antibiotic commonly used to treat bacterial infections.
  • A sample from the abscess was cultured for further investigation.

Results and Observations

  • The culture test revealed the presence of Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus, a bacterium that had not previously been reported as a cause of abdominal abscesses in horses.

Treatment and Outcome

  • The mare was treated post-surgery with a prolonged course of two different antibiotics: minocycline every 12 hours for 10 days, and enrofloxacin once every 24 hours for 42 days.
  • According to the owner, the mare’s behavioral complaints had resolved 10 months after the surgery, at which point the mare was able to resume work in competitive eventing.

Key Findings

  • This study presents the first report of Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus associated with an abdominal abscess in a horse. The successful treatment strategy, involving surgical intervention and prolonged antibiotic therapy, might be beneficial for similar cases in the future.

Cite This Article

APA
Pye J, Galuppo L, Whitcomb MB, Clothier K, Byrne B. (2020). Isolation of Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus from an abdominal abscess in an adult mare. Can Vet J, 61(12), 1307-1311.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 61
Issue: 12
Pages: 1307-1311

Researcher Affiliations

Pye, Jannah
  • William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Pye), Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (Galuppo, Whitcomb), Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology (Clothier, Byrne), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Galuppo, Larry
  • William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Pye), Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (Galuppo, Whitcomb), Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology (Clothier, Byrne), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Whitcomb, Mary Beth
  • William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Pye), Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (Galuppo, Whitcomb), Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology (Clothier, Byrne), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Clothier, Kirsten
  • William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Pye), Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (Galuppo, Whitcomb), Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology (Clothier, Byrne), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Byrne, Barbara
  • William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Pye), Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (Galuppo, Whitcomb), Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology (Clothier, Byrne), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Abdominal Abscess / drug therapy
  • Abdominal Abscess / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Campylobacter
  • Campylobacter Infections / diagnosis
  • Campylobacter Infections / drug therapy
  • Campylobacter Infections / veterinary
  • Campylobacter fetus
  • Female
  • Fetus
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horses

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Macías-Rioseco M, Ochoa J, Choi EA, Blanchard P, Moeller RB Jr, Uzal FA. Campylobacter jejuni hepatitis in a horse: case report and literature review. J Vet Diagn Invest 2025 May;37(3):463-466.
    doi: 10.1177/10406387251320604pubmed: 39966692google scholar: lookup
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