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Home / Equine Research Bank / Indian J Microbiol / Outbreak of Abortions and Infertility in Thoroughbred Mares ...
Indian journal of microbiology2011; 51(2); 212-216; doi: 10.1007/s12088-011-0088-3

Outbreak of Abortions and Infertility in Thoroughbred Mares Associated with Waterborne Aeromonas hydrophila.

Abstract: At a thoroughbred equine breeding farm near Hissar (Haryana), three mares aborted in their seventh month of pregnancy. The vaginal swabs of all aborted mares, and stomach contents, heart blood, liver, spleen and placenta of aborted fetuses yielded pure culture of Aeromonas hydrophila. In addition, A. hydrophila was also isolated from the vaginal swabs of three repeat breeding mares and faecal sample of a diarrheic foal. The source of infection was possibly water supply as all the water samples collected from taps, mother tank and storage tank were found to be positive for A. hydrophila. The antibiogram of all the isolates was similar showing resistance to ampicillin, carbenicillin, gentamicin, kanamycin and amikacin but sensitive to chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, cotrimoxazole, cotrimazine, nitrofurantoin, streptomycin and tetracycline. All the 20 sera samples collected from three aborted and three repeat breeding, and eight in-contact mares, a diarrheic foal, three cows and two male buffaloes maintained at the same farm contained antibodies against A. hydrophila with titres ranging from 80 to 640. The water supply was instantly chlorinated using 0.05% sodium hypochlorite for three consecutive days and all the culturally positive mares were treated with intravaginal administration of 1 g ciprofloxacin, while the foal was given nitrofurantoin for three days. After one month, A. hydrophila could not be isolated either from mares or from their environment and antibody titre in all the seropositive animals showed a declining trend. Later, all the aborted and repeat breeding mares were confirmed to be pregnant. Thus, the present study indicated that water-borne A. hydrophila might be associated with equine abortions and infertility, and diarrhea in newborn foals.
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Publication Date: 2011-02-04 PubMed ID: 22654167PubMed Central: PMC3209884DOI: 10.1007/s12088-011-0088-3Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article centers on an outbreak of abortions and infertility in thoroughbred mares which was tied to the waterborne bacteria, Aeromonas hydrophila. The bacterium was found in aborted mares, fetuses, repeat breeding mares, and a sick foal, with the suspected source linked to the farm’s water supply.

Study Setting and Test Subjects

  • The site of the study was a thoroughbred equine breeding farm located near Hissar (Haryana).
  • Outbreak subjects included three mares that aborted in their seventh month of pregnancy, three repeat breeding mares, and a foal with diarrhoea.
  • Organ samples from aborted fetuses including stomach contents, heart blood, liver, spleen, and placenta were examined.
  • Vaginal swabs from all subjects were taken and tested for A. hydrophila, a pathogenic bacteria.

Identification of the Source of Infection

  • The studied water samples, collected from taps, the mother tank, and a storage tank, tested positive for A. hydrophila, hinting that the water supply could be the source of infection.
  • An serological analysis of the animals maintained at the farm showed that they all had antibodies to A. hydrophila, indicating exposure to the bacteria.

Response to the Outbreak

  • The water supply was immediately treated with sodium hypochlorite for three consecutive days to eliminate the bacteria.
  • Affected mares were treated intravaginally with ciprofloxacin, while the foal was given nitrofurantoin for three days.
  • Antimicrobial resistance profiles of the bacterial isolates were reported. They were resistant to ampicillin, carbenicillin, gentamicin, kanamycin, and amikacin; however, they showed sensitivity to chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, cotrimoxazole, cotrimazine, nitrofurantoin, streptomycin, and tetracycline.

Confirmation and Resolution of the Outbreak

  • A month after the initial treatment, A. hydrophila was not detectable either from the mares or their environment suggesting the treatment was successful.
  • Decreasing seropositive animals indicated a receding trend of the bacteria.
  • To conclude, all the aborted and repeat breeding mares were then confirmed to be pregnant, further supporting the initial speculation about the affliction’s cause.
  • The study suggests that waterborne Aeromonas hydrophila might be associated with equine abortions, infertility, and diarrhoea in newborn foals.

Cite This Article

APA
Singh BR, Gulati BR, Virmani N, Chauhan M. (2011). Outbreak of Abortions and Infertility in Thoroughbred Mares Associated with Waterborne Aeromonas hydrophila. Indian J Microbiol, 51(2), 212-216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12088-011-0088-3

Publication

Indian journal of microbiology
ISSN: 0973-7715
NlmUniqueID: 0374703
Country: India
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 2
Pages: 212-216

Researcher Affiliations

Singh, B R
    Gulati, B R
      Virmani, Nitin
        Chauhan, Mamta

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          Citations

          This article has been cited 2 times.
          1. Xiao G, Zheng X, Li J, Yang Y, Yang J, Xiao N, Liu J, Sun Z. Contribution of the EnvZ/OmpR two-component system to growth, virulence and stress tolerance of colistin-resistant Aeromonas hydrophila.. Front Microbiol 2022;13:1032969.
            doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1032969pubmed: 36312957google scholar: lookup
          2. Igbinosa IH, Igbinosa EO, Okoh AI. Antibiogram characterization and putative virulence genes in Aeromonas species isolated from pig fecal samples.. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2016 Jun;23(12):12199-205.
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