Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Foals with fever and lameness due to rib infection
By Neil, K M et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2010·Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Rib osteomyelitis in three foals.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Three young foals, aged between 21 and 44 days, were brought in because they had fevers and were limping. Each foal had painful swelling under the skin due to an infection in the rib bone, which caused a fracture in one or more ribs. They also had other infections in different areas, including the belly button, eyes, and digestive system. Two of the foals underwent surgery to treat the infection and swelling, and tests showed that one foal had a type of bacteria called Salmonella in its abscess, while another had it in its stool. Unfortunately, two of the three foals had to be put to sleep.
Abstract
Three foals aged between 21 and 44 days were presented for evaluation of pyrexia and lameness. Each had subcutaneous abscessation associated with osteomyelitis of a rib at the costochondral junction and pathological fracture of the affected rib; one foal had more than one rib affected. Other localised sites of infection included other sites of osteomyelitis, omphalophlebitis, uveitis, enterocolitis, and calcaneal bursitis. The subcutaneous abscessation and rib osteomyelitis was treated surgically in two foals. Salmonella typhimurium was isolated from the subcutaneous abscess in one foal and from the faeces of another. Two of the three foals were euthanased. Ultrasonography was a more useful modality than radiography for establishing the diagnosis of costal osteomyelitis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20402693/