Umbilical infections in foals: microbiological investigation and management.
Abstract: This study aims to investigate the bacteria involved in equine omphalitis and their susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs, and consequently to provide guidelines concerning the most suitable treatment protocol in accordance with the clinical, ultrasound and laboratory findings. Forty foals aged between one and 30 days were evaluated in the course of this investigation. An ultrasound examination of all umbilical remnants was carried out carefully in all foals; umbilical swabs were collected for bacteriological examination, and blood samples were collected for blood culture from 19 foals with fever and abnormal blood values. Bacterial omphalitis was observed in 95 per cent of foals and bacterial septicaemia was diagnosed in 11 cases. Enterobacteria and coccoid Gram-positive bacteria were isolated more frequently than Serratia marcescens, Pantoea agglomerans and Trueperella pyogenes Omphalectomy was performed in 77.5 per cent of the foals examined; the remainder were treated only medically with antimicrobial drugs as recommended by antibiotic susceptibility testing performed for all bacteria isolated. Antibiotic therapy was successful in all foals that only received medical treatment; nevertheless, omphalectomy was performed in most cases particularly in situations of clinical decline despite antibiotic therapy and when involvement of umbilical vein, fever and joint disorders were observed.
British Veterinary Association.
Publication Date: 2017-03-17 PubMed ID: 28314783DOI: 10.1136/vr.103999Google 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
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The study investigates bacterial infections in the umbilical cords of foals and their drug resistance, with the goal of establishing effective treatment guidelines. The research included both medical examination and surgical intervention methods to tackle the issue.
Research Sample
- The research sample consisted of 40 foals aged between one and 30 days.
- A non-invasive ultrasound examination was performed on all the subjects to inspect umbilical remnants.
- A subset of 19 foals showing fever and abnormal blood values went through blood culture testing.
Microbiological Evaluation
- To evaluate bacteria present, the researchers collected swabs from the umbilical cord area for bacteriological examination.
- Bacterial omphalitis, an inflammation of the umbilical cord due to bacterial infection, was observed in 95% of the foals.
- Furthermore, bacterial septicaemia, a situation when bacteria enters the bloodstream causing severe infections, was diagnosed in 11 cases.
- The bacterial culprits primarily detected were Enterobacteria and Coccoid Gram-positive bacteria.
Treatment Procedures and Outcomes
- Of the infected foals, 77.5% underwent omphalectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the problematic part of the umbilical cord.
- The remaining foals received medical treatment involving the use of antimicrobial drugs, the choice of which was based on the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolated bacteria.
- All foals receiving only medical treatment responded successfully to the antimicrobial therapy.
- The omphalectomy procedure was majorly performed in instances when clinical conditions continued to decline despite administering antibiotics, or when the umbilical vein, fever, and joint disorders were observed in conjunction.
Implication of the Research
- This research aids in identifying the predominant bacterial species responsible for umbilical infections in foals and assessing their resistance to antibiotics.
- It provides a guideline for the most effective treatment protocol based on clinical, ultrasound, and laboratory findings. Both medical and surgical methods were found to be effective, however, the choice between the two should be dictated by the severity of the infection and the foal’s response to medication.
Cite This Article
APA
Rampacci E, Passamonti F, Bottinelli M, Stefanetti V, Cercone M, Nannarone S, Gialletti R, Beccati F, Coletti M, Pepe M.
(2017).
Umbilical infections in foals: microbiological investigation and management.
Vet Rec, 180(22), 543.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.103999 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centro di Studio del Cavallo Sportivo, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, via S. Costanzo 4, Perugia 06126, Italy.
- Centro di Studio del Cavallo Sportivo, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, via S. Costanzo 4, Perugia 06126, Italy.
- Centro di Studio del Cavallo Sportivo, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, via S. Costanzo 4, Perugia 06126, Italy.
- Centro di Studio del Cavallo Sportivo, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, via S. Costanzo 4, Perugia 06126, Italy.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
- Centro di Studio del Cavallo Sportivo, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, via S. Costanzo 4, Perugia 06126, Italy.
- Centro di Studio del Cavallo Sportivo, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, via S. Costanzo 4, Perugia 06126, Italy.
- Centro di Studio del Cavallo Sportivo, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, via S. Costanzo 4, Perugia 06126, Italy.
- Centro di Studio del Cavallo Sportivo, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, via S. Costanzo 4, Perugia 06126, Italy.
- Centro di Studio del Cavallo Sportivo, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, via S. Costanzo 4, Perugia 06126, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
- Bacteremia / diagnosis
- Bacteremia / veterinary
- Bacteria / isolation & purification
- Bacterial Infections / microbiology
- Bacterial Infections / therapy
- Bacterial Infections / veterinary
- Female
- Gram-Positive Bacteria / isolation & purification
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Male
- Umbilicus / microbiology
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Khalid E, Tartor YH, Ammar AM, Abdelaziz R, Mahmmod Y, Abdelkhalek A. Controlling drug-resistant bacteria in Arabian horses: bacteriophage cocktails for treating wound infections. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1609955.
- Meier KK, Müller KE, Merle R, Arndt H, Dachrodt L, Hoedemaker M, Kellermann L, Knubben-Schweizer G, Volkmann M, Stock A. Field study on routine procedures for navel care in neonatal calves on dairy farms in Eastern Germany. PLoS One 2025;20(7):e0329326.
- Saitua A, Sanchez de Medina A, Bulnes F, Buzon A, Miraz R, Argüelles D, Diez de Castro E. Urogenital surgery in foals. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1520491.
- Buzon-Cuevas A, Duaso J, Sanchez de Medina A, Sierra JM, Perez-Ecija A, Mendoza FJ. Description of a Modified Two-Step Omphalectomy Technique Using the LigaSure(™) Device to Remove the Whole Extrahepatic Umbilical Vein: A Case Series Study in Equine and Donkey Foals. Animals (Basel) 2025 Mar 28;15(7).
- Shnaiderman-Torban A, Meltzer L, Zilberman-Daniels T, Navon-Venezia S, Cohen A, Sutton GA, Blum SE, Amit S, Steinman A. Infections caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales in hospitalized neonatal foals: Can colonization predict infection?. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e17299.
- Hartmann G, Lopes CE, de Dos Reis Paula A, Paz MC, Tres GZ, Silva VGC, de Moraes JTR, Araújo MD, Machado REH, Terra JA, Sonne L. Septicemic omphalophlebitis by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in a southern right whale calf (Eubalaena australis). Vet Res Commun 2025 Jan 18;49(2):84.
- Kim Y, Ji MJ, Park J, Choi KS. Case report: Omphalitis caused by Trueperella pyogenes infection in a Korean indigenous calf. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1362352.
- Klein C, Caston S, Troy J. Hernia formation after single-stage umbilical vein marsupialization in three Percheron foals diagnosed with septic omphalophlebitis. Clin Case Rep 2022 Aug;10(8):e6274.
- Rampacci E, Mazzola K, Beccati F, Passamonti F. Diagnostic characteristics of refractometry cut-off points for the estimation of immunoglobulin G concentration in mare colostrum. Equine Vet J 2023 Jan;55(1):102-110.
- Zakia L, Shaw S, Bonomelli N, O'Sullivan S, Zur Linden A, Dubois M, Baird J, Guest B. Hematuria in a 3-month-old filly with an internal umbilical abscess and internal iliac artery aneurysm. Can Vet J 2021 Aug;62(8):877-881.
- Shnaiderman-Torban A, Marchaim D, Navon-Venezia S, Lubrani O, Paitan Y, Arielly H, Steinman A. Third Generation Cephalosporin Resistant Enterobacterales Infections in Hospitalized Horses and Donkeys: A Case-Case-Control Analysis. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021 Feb 4;10(2).
- Rzewuska M, Kwiecień E, Chrobak-Chmiel D, Kizerwetter-Świda M, Stefańska I, Gieryńska M. Pathogenicity and Virulence of Trueperella pyogenes: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2019 Jun 4;20(11).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
