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Risk factors associated with fecal Salmonella shedding among hospitalized horses with signs of gastrointestinal tract disease.
Abstract: To estimate prevalence of and identify risk factors for fecal Salmonella shedding among hospitalized horses with signs of gastrointestinal tract disease. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: 465 hospitalized horses with gastrointestinal tract disease. Methods: Horses were classified as positive or negative for fecal Salmonella shedding during hospitalization by means of standard aerobic bacteriologic methods. The relationship between investigated exposure factors and fecal Salmonella shedding was examined by means of logistic regression. Results: The overall prevalence of fecal Salmonella shedding was 13%. Salmonella serotype Newport was the most commonly isolated serotype (12/60 [20%]), followed by Anatum (8/60 [13%]), Java (13%), and Saint-paul (13%). Foals with gastrointestinal tract disease were 3.27 times as likely to be shedding Salmonella organisms as were adult horses with gastrointestinal tract disease. Adult horses that had been treated with antimicrobial drugs prior to hospitalization were 3.09 times as likely to be shedding Salmonella organisms as were adult horses that had not been treated with antimicrobial drugs prior to hospitalization. Adult horses that underwent abdominal surgery were 2.09 times as likely to be shedding Salmonella organisms as were adult horses that did not undergo abdominal surgery. Conclusions: Results suggest that a history of exposure to antimicrobial drugs prior to hospitalization and abdominal surgery during hospitalization were associated with Salmonella shedding in adult horses with gastrointestinal tract disease. Foals with gastrointestinal tract disease were more likely to shed Salmonella organisms than were adult horses with gastrointestinal tract disease.
Publication Date: 2004-08-25 PubMed ID: 15323386DOI: 10.2460/javma.2004.225.275Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research studied the prevalence and risk factors related to the shedding of fecal Salmonella among horses hospitalized with gastrointestinal issues. It was discovered that foals had a higher probability of shedding Salmonella, as did adult horses treated with antibiotics before hospitalization, or those who underwent abdominal surgery.
Methods
The research made use of a cross-sectional study of 465 hospitalized horses with gastrointestinal disease. These horses were studied and classified as positive or negative for fecal Salmonella shedding throughout their hospitalization, making use of standard aerobic bacteriologic methods. A statistical examination was carried out using logistic regression to investigate the link between the exposure factors under consideration and fecal Salmonella shedding.
Results
- The overall Salmonella shedding prevalence among the sampled horses was identified as 13%.
- The most commonly isolated strain of Salmonella was serotype Newport (20%), closely followed by serotypes Anatum, Java, and Saint-Paul—each at 13%.
- Relative to adult horses, foals with gastrointestinal issues were 3.27 times more likely to exhibit Salmonella shedding.
- As compared to untreated adult horses, adult horses previously treated with antimicrobial drugs were 3.09 times as likely to shed Salmonella.
- Horses undergoing abdominal surgery had 2.09 times the likelihood of shedding Salmonella compared to those that did not undergo surgery.
Conclusions
From the results obtained, it can be inferred that the risk factors most strongly associated with Salmonella shedding in horses include a history of exposure to antimicrobial drugs, undergoing abdominal surgery while hospitalized, and younger age (foals). In particular, foals with gastrointestinal disease were found to be more likely to shed Salmonella organisms than adult horses with similar conditions. This implies the need for more rigorous control measures for these identified risk factors to reduce the potential spread of Salmonella in a hospital setting.
Cite This Article
APA
Ernst NS, Hernandez JA, MacKay RJ, Brown MP, Gaskin JM, Nguyen AD, Giguere S, Colahan PT, Troedsson MR, Haines GR, Addison IR, Miller BJ.
(2004).
Risk factors associated with fecal Salmonella shedding among hospitalized horses with signs of gastrointestinal tract disease.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 225(2), 275-281.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2004.225.275 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0136, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Abdomen / surgery
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Feces / microbiology
- Female
- Gastrointestinal Diseases / epidemiology
- Gastrointestinal Diseases / microbiology
- Gastrointestinal Diseases / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Hospitals, Animal / statistics & numerical data
- Logistic Models
- Male
- Prevalence
- Risk Factors
- Salmonella / classification
- Salmonella / isolation & purification
- Salmonella Infections, Animal / epidemiology
- Salmonella Infections, Animal / microbiology
- Seasons
- Serotyping
Citations
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