Salmonella spp. fecal shedding detected by real-time PCR in competing endurance horses.

The study examined the presence of Salmonella bacteria in feces of endurance competition horses using real-time PCR analysis, finding that shedding of Salmonella is rare among these horses during competitions.

Objectives of the Study

• The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of Salmonella spp. (species) in the feces of endurance competition horses. The interest in salmonella stems from its earlier documentation in 8% of horses presented to veterinary centers for colic. There was particular interest in understanding the prevalence before and after endurance horse competitions.

Methodology of the Research

• A total of 204 horses from three distinct 100-mile endurance competitions were examined in the study. Fecal samples were collected from the horses and were cultivated in a selenite broth, an enrichment media often used in bacterial culture for Salmonella.
• After the incubation period, the study utilized 289 samples for testing by real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) analysis. PCR is a common laboratory technique used to amplify DNA and RNA samples. The real-time version of PCR allows scientists to observe the amplification of the DNA as it is happening.

Findings of the Research

• The results revealed that only one post-race sample out of the 289 tested, which translates to 0.5%, proved positive for Salmonella spp. The horse from which this positive sample was obtained did not have a pre-race sample available.
• This indicates the fecal shedding of Salmonella species is quite uncommon in endurance horses during competitions.
• The data suggests that the prevalence of Salmonella in competing endurance horses is lower than that in the general horse population as presented in previous studies.

Implications and Future Research

• While the study provided significant information on the prevalence of fecal shedding of Salmonella spp. in endurance horses during competition, further research is necessary to confirm these findings and to identify possible sources of Salmonella infection, especially in horses with colic that need treatment at referral centers.
• Understanding the sources and pathways of Salmonella infection in these horses could help devise strategies to mitigate the risks and improve the horses’ overall health and performance.