Update on bacterial pneumonia and pleuropneumonia in the adult horse.
Abstract: Bacterial infections of the lower respiratory tract in adult horses occur when bacteria from the nasopharynx reach the lower airways and overwhelm normal defense mechanisms. Although Streptococcus equi subsp zooepidemicus is the most commonly isolated bacterial species, mixed infections are possible. Tracheobronchial aspiration for microbiologic culture and sensitivity is suggested in cases presenting with severe clinical signs or not responding to treatment. Early intervention and appropriate antimicrobial selection results in a good prognosis for both survival and return to athletic function in most horses.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2015-01-16 PubMed ID: 25600453DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2014.11.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research paper discusses bacterial pneumonia in adult horses, particularly the importance of early intervention and appropriate antimicrobial treatment in improving prognosis.
Objective of the Study
- The objective of the research is to understand the process of bacterial infections in the lower respiratory tract of adult horses. It examines the most common bacterial species responsible for these infections, as well as appropriate diagnostic and treatment methods.
Pathway of Infection
- Bacterial infections in the lower respiratory tract of horses occur when bacteria from the nasopharynx (the area behind the nose and above the throat) reach the lower airways. This often happens when the horse’s usual defense mechanisms are overwhelmed.
Predominant Bacterial Species
- The paper identifies Streptococcus equi subsp zooepidemicus as the most commonly isolated bacterial species responsible for these infections. However, it also acknowledges the possibility of mixed infections involving different types of bacteria.
Recommended Diagnostic Tool
- For horses presenting with severe clinical symptoms or not responding to initial treatments, a diagnostic process known as tracheobronchial aspiration is advised. This involves collecting a sample from the horse’s respiratory tract for microbiological culture and sensitivity testing. This test helps identify the type of bacteria causing the infection and their resistance or sensitivity to various antibiotics, thereby aiding in choosing the most effective treatment.
Importance of Early Intervention and Appropriate Treatment
- The research emphasizes the importance of early intervention in improving the horse’s chances of recovery. Prompt and suitable antimicrobial selection, based on the results of the sensitivity test, can greatly improve the prognosis for the horse’s survival and subsequent return to athletic function.
Cite This Article
APA
Reuss SM, Giguère S.
(2015).
Update on bacterial pneumonia and pleuropneumonia in the adult horse.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 31(1), 105-120.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2014.11.002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 100136, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. Electronic address: sreuss@ufl.edu.
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, 501 DW Brooks Drive, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Pleuropneumonia / microbiology
- Pleuropneumonia / therapy
- Pleuropneumonia / veterinary
- Pneumonia, Bacterial / microbiology
- Pneumonia, Bacterial / therapy
- Pneumonia, Bacterial / veterinary
- Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
- Streptococcal Infections / therapy
- Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
- Streptococcus equi / isolation & purification
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Johnson LR, Epstein SE, Reagan KL. Etiology and effusion characteristics in 29 cats and 60 dogs with pyothorax (2010-2020). J Vet Intern Med 2023 May-Jun;37(3):1155-1165.
- Hepworth-Warren KL, Nelson N, Dembek KA, Young KAS. Comparison of thoracic ultrasonography and thoracic radiography between healthy adult horses and horses with bacterial pneumonia using a novel, objective ultrasonographic scoring system. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:991634.
- Migliorisi A, Barger A, Austin S, Foreman JH, Wilkins P. Hyponatremia in horses with septic pneumopathy. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Sep;36(5):1820-1826.
- Venturini C, Bowring B, Partridge SR, Ben Zakour NL, Fajardo-Lubian A, Lopez Ayala A, Qin J, Totsika M, van Galen G, Norris J, Iredell J. Co-Occurrence of Multidrug Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Pathogenic Clones of Human Relevance in an Equine Pneumonia Case. Microbiol Spectr 2022 Jun 29;10(3):e0215821.
- Miller AB, Harris PA, Barker VD, Adams AA. Short-term transport stress and supplementation alter immune function in aged horses. PLoS One 2021;16(8):e0254139.
- Sacks M, Byrne DP, Herteman N, Secombe C, Adler A, Hosgood G, Raisis AL, Mosing M. Electrical impedance tomography to measure lung ventilation distribution in healthy horses and horses with left-sided cardiac volume overload. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Sep;35(5):2511-2523.
- Bergmann R, Jentsch MC, Uhlig A, Müller U, van der Linden M, Rasmussen M, Waller A, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Baums CG. Prominent Binding of Human and Equine Fibrinogen to Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Is Mediated by Specific SzM Types and Is a Distinct Phenotype of Zoonotic Isolates. Infect Immun 2019 Dec 17;88(1).
- Arroyo MG, Slovis NM, Moore GE, Taylor SD. Factors Associated with Survival in 97 Horses with Septic Pleuropneumonia. J Vet Intern Med 2017 May;31(3):894-900.
- Albert E, Biksi I, Laczkó L, Miló L, Cseri K, Bőkényné Tóth R, Papp D, Halmay D, Bódai E, Bakos Z. Streptococcus hillyeri isolated from septic pleuritis in a horse. J Vet Diagn Invest 2025 Mar;37(2):393-397.
- Hepworth-Warren KL, Love K. Survey of the approach to the diagnosis and management of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses by equine veterinarians. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1484970.
- Egli P, Boone L, Huber L, Higgins C, Gaonkar PP, Arrington J, Naskou MC, Peroni J, Gordon J, Lascola KM. Pilot study characterizing a single pooled preparation of equine platelet lysate for nebulization in the horse. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1488942.
- Hallowell KL, Hepworth-Warren KL, Dembek K. An updated description of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses and factors associated with death. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2766-2775.
- Hepworth-Warren KL, Estell K, Cowles B, Amodie D, Crisman M. Utility of serum amyloid A in monitoring clinical response to antimicrobial treatment in horses with bacterial pneumonia. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Sep-Oct;37(5):1917-1922.
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