Salmonella enterica shedding in hospitalized horses and associations with diarrhea occurrence among their stablemates and gastrointestinal-related illness or death following discharge.

The research investigates the relationship between Salmonella enterica shedding in hospitalized horses, the occurrence of diarrhea among their stablemates, and subsequent diseases or deaths related to the gastrointestinal system post-discharge. The study found no significant link between Salmonella shedding in hospitalized horses and diarrhea in their stablemates, but discovered associations between oral antibiotic treatment and disease and death risk.

Study Design and Methods

• In this retrospective cohort study, a total of 221 horses was examined. Among these, 59 horses had shed Salmonella enterica during hospitalization while the remaining 162 consistently tested negative for Salmonella shedding.
• The researchers gathered information from the medical records of the horses which included their treatment history, clinical status upon culture, and results of microbial culture from fecal samples.
• To gather more information about the hospitalized horses and their stablemates, interviews with horse owners were conducted.

Analysis and Results

• In the analysis, the data were scrutinized to identify potential risk factors for diarrhea occurrence and death among the horses.
• The study results showed that the incidence of diarrhea among stablemates was not linked to Salmonella shedding in the hospitalized horses. Instead, the study found a significant association between diarrhea in stablemates and oral antibiotic treatment during hospitalization.
• The research also revealed that Salmonella shedding during hospitalization did not directly correlate with the risk of death or gastrointestinal-related illness in the studied horses for up to 6 months after discharge. However, the study detected an increased risk of death during the pre-discussion period if the horse had both a history of Salmonella shedding during hospitalization and gastrointestinal illness.

Conclusion

• The findings from this study suggest that stablemates of horses that shed Salmonella enterica in the hospital didn’t seem to run a higher risk of contracting diarrhea, but those in contact with horses receiving oral antibiotics may have a higher risk.
• According to the study, Salmonella enterica shedding during hospitalization might act as an indicator of a higher long-term risk of death upon discharge. However, this risk is likely dependent on the specific strain of Salmonella involved and the biosecurity measures implemented during hospitalization.