Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Newborn foal with umbilical infection and blood infection
By Shnaiderman-Torban, Anat et al.·Published in Journal of equine veterinary science·2020·Koret School of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: CTX-M-15 Producing Escherichia coli Sequence Type 361 and Sequence Type 38 Causing Bacteremia and Umbilical Infection in a Neonate Foal.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A newborn Tennessee walking horse foal was brought in for weakness and a swollen belly. The foal showed signs of dehydration and developed serious symptoms like bloody diarrhea and gastric reflux, leading to a diagnosis of sepsis and enterocolitis (inflammation of the intestines). Despite treatment with fluids, antibiotics, and surgery to remove an infected umbilical remnant, the foal's condition worsened, and it was ultimately euthanized. A postmortem exam revealed severe intestinal damage and kidney issues caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
People also search for: foal weakness and diarrhea · newborn horse sepsis treatment · umbilical infection in foals
Abstract
An eighteen-hour-old Tennessee walking horse foal was referred due to weakness and abdominal pain. Physical examination revealed dehydration, distended abdomen, and uveitis. Blood analysis revealed leukopenia, neutrophils' toxicity and left shift. The foal developed bloody diarrhea, gastric reflux, and was diagnosed with sepsis and enterocolitis. The foal was treated with intravenous fluids, plasma, antibiotics (ceftriaxone and metronidazole), partial parenteral nutrition (dextrose and amino acids), flunixin meglumine, and ophthalmic drops. Umbilical ultrasound revealed a fluid pocket adjacent to the umbilical vein; therefore, omphalectomy was performed. Umbilicus and blood were cultured. Results recovered two multidrug-resistant extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli clones, identified as ST38 (umbilicus) and ST361 (blood), harboring two different plasmids encoding blaAntibiotic treatment was replaced with imipenem and amikacin, but the foal deteriorated and was euthanized. Postmortem investigation revealed severe ulcerative enteritis, a perforation site and acute renal infarcts. Sepsis due to several different ESBL-producing E. coli strains should be considered, investigated, and treated accordingly.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31952646/