Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Notes from the Field: Fatal Infection Associated with Equine Exposure - King County, Washington, 2016.
- Journal:
- MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report
- Year:
- 2016
- Authors:
- Kawakami, Vance et al.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In March 2016, health officials in King County, Washington, learned about two people who got sick from a bacteria called Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus). This bacteria is usually harmless to humans but can sometimes cause infections, especially if someone has been in close contact with horses or consumed unpasteurized dairy products. In horses, this bacteria can lead to various infections, including those affecting the lungs, wounds, and reproductive system. The health department looked into the situation to understand how widespread the issue was, what might have caused it, and to provide advice on how to stay safe.
Abstract
On March 17, 2016, Public Health-Seattle & King County in Washington was notified of two persons who received a diagnosis of Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) infections. S. zooepidemicus is a zoonotic pathogen that rarely causes human illness and is usually associated with consuming unpasteurized dairy products or with direct horse contact (1). In horses, S. zooepidemicus is a commensal bacterium that can cause respiratory, wound, and uterine infections (2). The health department investigated to determine the magnitude of the outbreak, identify risk factors, and offer recommendations.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27490189/