Risk factors associated with fecal Salmonella shedding among hospitalized horses with signs of gastrointestinal tract disease.
- Journal Article
Summary
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
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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