Campylobacter in foals

Authors: Gardner DE, Young GW
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 35, Issue 7, pp 116-117, Jul 1987
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Horse, Livestock
Subject Terms: Abdomen, Alimentary system/gastroenterology, Bacterial, Zoonosis, Infectious disease, Disease/defect, Reproduction, Public health
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: During the early months of 1987 it came to our notice that a trotting stud situated in the Auckland area was experiencing a problem with non-responsive diarrhoea in young foals (usually aged less than 4 weeks) but occasionally persisting in animals up to two months of age. Although there had been a few sporadic cases of diarrhoea last year, the severity of the problem in the current season prompted an investigation into the possible cause. Examination of faecal samples for Salmonella, Yersinia, viruses (E.M. and ELISA for rota and coronaviruses) as well as for evidence of nematode and protoioal infestations consistently gave negative results. Later specimens, however, were examined for the presence of Campylobacter spp. Despite the fact that some of the foals had received prolonged antibacterial therapy, Chmpylobacter jejuni was isolated from 903 faecal samples as well as from the intestinal tract of a foal submitted for post-mortem. Unfortunately the intestinal specimens were too autolysed for a definitive histopathological evaluation to be imade. In light of these findings a pilot investightion into Campylobacter infection in foals was initiated…

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