1. HORSES: Rhodococcus equi infection (Rhodococcus equi)-foals

Question 1

disease

Answer 1

-Rhodococcus equi (pneumonia)

-infectious disease of foals

Question 2

caused by

Answer 2

Rhodococcus equi

Question 3

characterized by

Answer 3

bronchopneumonia, pulmonary abscesses and lymphadenitis

Question 4

agent

Answer 4

-Rhodococcus equi

-gram +

-facultatively intracellular

-nearly ubiquitous in soil (lähes kaikkialla maaperässä)

Question 5

HR

Answer 5

-horses

-OCCASIONAL pathogen of humans

Question 6

most serious cause of pneumonia?

Answer 6

-foals in 1-4 months of age

> clinical disease is RARE in horses > (over) 8months of age

Question 7

Foals that produce little to no detectable gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)

Answer 7

ARE AT RISK of developing pneumonia

Question 8

often what?

Answer 8

-sporadic

> on farms where dz is endemic: annual morbidity can be high

Question 9

mortality?

Answer 9

case-fatality without Tx 80%

Question 10

transmission: excretion

Answer 10

feces

Question 11

transmitted via

Answer 11

-dust

-indirect contact (manure)

Question 12

transmission route

Answer 12

-respiratory (inhalation)

> foals are infected during FIRST WEEK OF LIFE

Question 13

clinical signs

Answer 13

-slowly progressive

1. acute
   to
2. subacute clinical manifestations

Question 14

CS: pulmonary lesions ?

Answer 14

-subacute to chronic suppurative bronchopneumonia

-pulmonary abscessation

-suppurative lymphadenitis

Question 15

Clinical signs : signs

Answer 15

-lethargy, fever, tachypnea

-diarrhea: in 1/3 of foals

-cough

-Thx auscultation: crackles and wheezes with asymmetric/regional distribution

Question 16

Clinical signs: also might be seen?

Answer 16

-polysynovitis (nivel tulehdus)

-intestinal and mesenteric abscesses

-osteomyelitis (luu infektio)

Question 17

PM

Answer 17

-pyogranulomatous pneumonia (pyöreitä tulehduspesäkkeitä keuhkokudoksessa)

-lymphadenitis of bronchial LNs

> SUPPURATIVE R.equi pneumonia in foal - note the abscesses in lungs

> LARGE encapsulated abscesses throughout lung parenchyma due to Rhodococcus equi infection

Question 18

DDx

Answer 18

-interstitial pneumonia

-viral respiratory disease

-combined immunodeficiency of Arabian foals

-respiratory tract infection with S.zooepidemicus

-parasitic pneumonia

-pneymocystis jirovici pneumonia

Question 19

diagnosis: material

Answer 19

-transtracheal lavage

-lung, LNs

Question 20

diagnosis: in lab

Answer 20

-bacterial culture-for definitive diagnosis

-cytology

-histology

> radiographs, ultrasound ?

Question 21

Tx?

Answer 21

-ABs : combination of erythromycin and rifampin
>length: 3-8 weeks
>supportive therapy: IV fluids, saline nebulization, NSAIDs, oxygen, prophylactic antiulcer medication

Question 22

prevention?

Answer 22

-early detection of clinical cases

-enhancing passive immunity for neonatal foals

-enhancing nonspecific immunity for neonatal foals

-foals should be maintained in well-ventilated, dust-free areas, avoiding dirt paddocks and overcrowding

-pneumonic foals should be isolated