Association of soil concentrations of Rhodococcus equi and incidence of pneumonia attributable to Rhodococcus equi in foals on farms in central Kentucky.
Am J Vet Res
; 69(3): 385-95, 2008 Mar.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18312138
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To determine whether soil concentrations of total or virulent Rhodococcus equi differed among breeding farms with and without foals with pneumonia caused by R equi. SAMPLE POPULATION 37 farms in central Kentucky. Procedures-During January, March, and July 2006, the total concentration of R equi and concentration of virulent R equi were determined by use of quantitative bacteriologic culture and a colony immunoblot technique, respectively, in soil specimens obtained from farms. Differences in concentrations and proportion of virulent isolates within and among time points were compared among farms.RESULTS:
Soil concentrations of total or virulent R equi did not vary among farms at any time point. Virulent R equi were identified in soil samples from all farms. Greater density of mares and foals was significantly associated with farms having foals with pneumonia attributable to R equi. Among farms with affected foals, there was a significant association of increased incidence of pneumonia attributable to R equi with an increase in the proportion of virulent bacteria between samples collected in March and July. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that virulent R equi were commonly recovered from soil of horse breeding farms in central Kentucky, regardless of the status of foals with pneumonia attributable to R equi on each farm. The incidence of foals with pneumonia attributable to R equi can be expected to be higher at farms with a greater density of mares and foals.
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Soil Microbiology
/
Actinomycetales Infections
/
Rhodococcus equi
/
Pneumonia, Bacterial
/
Horse Diseases
Type of study:
Incidence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Year:
2008
Type:
Article