Salmonella typhimurium abscess as a postoperative complication in a horse with colic.

The article describes a case where a horse developed a Salmonella typhimurium abscess, a rare postoperative complication, following surgery for colic and an inguinal hernia.

Background

• The case involved an 11-year-old fox-trotter stallion that was being evaluated for colic, a common gastrointestinal disorder in horses. This horse was found to have developed an additional complication of a right-sided inguinal hernia.
• An exploratory laparotomy revealed that the ileum, a part of the small intestine, was herniated through the right inguinal canal, necessitating surgical intervention.

Procedure

• The surgery involved resecting the compromised parts of the small intestine and performing a jejunocecal anastomosis, a surgical process that connects the jejunum (second part of the small intestine) to the cecum (a pouch at the beginning of the large intestine).
• Additionally, the stallion was castrated – a common practice in equine management to manage behavior and prevent unplanned breeding.

li> However, three days after surgery, the horse developed an inability to bear weight on its left hind limb and swelling in the thigh region.

Salmonella typhimurium abscess

• Further evaluations and testing revealed that the horse had contracted an infection with Salmonella typhimurium, a bacterium often associated with food poisoning in humans which also affects animals.
• The infection resulted in abscess formation, which is a collection of pus that forms due to bacterial infection. The abscesses were detected in the left thigh of the horse.
• These abscesses were surgically drained, however, the horse’s condition did not improve considerably, leading to the owner opting for euthanasia.

Conclusion

• This case represents a rare and severe postoperative complication in horses, presenting as a Salmonella typhimurium abscess following surgery for colic and an inguinal hernia.
• It highlights the importance of meticulous postoperative care and monitoring to detect and manage complications early to enhance recovery and survival rate.