Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Weakness in 2-day-old foal due to septicemia
By Lawhon, Sara D et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc·2014·Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Weissella confusa septicemia in a foal.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 2-day-old foal was brought to the vet because it was weak and suspected to have sepsis. Blood tests showed a bacteria called Weissella confusa, which is rare in foals. The foal initially improved with antibiotics but later developed serious complications in its leg joints and tendons, leading to euthanasia. A postmortem exam revealed severe lung issues and damage to the blood vessels in the leg. Unfortunately, despite initial treatment, the foal did not survive.
People also search for: foal weakness and sepsis · Weissella confusa in foals · foal joint infection treatment
Abstract
Weissella confusa is a Gram-positive bacterium that has been identified in environmental and food samples from around the world. Rare cases of bacteremia in immunocompromised people have been reported. A 2-day-old foal was presented for weakness and suspected sepsis. Blood culture yielded pure growth of a Gram-positive coccobacillus, which was identified as W. confusa through sequencing of the 16S ribosomal DNA. Although the foal initially responded to antimicrobial therapy with ceftiofur and metronidazole, it later developed septic complications of the right tarsocrural joint and right digital flexor tendon sheath and was euthanized. Postmortem examination and histology revealed subcutaneous icterus, severe diffuse interstitial pneumonia, septic synovitis, necrotizing vasculitis with marked thrombosis and hemorrhage in the medial digital vessels of the right hind limb, and ischemic necrosis of the right hind hoof laminae. Gram-positive, coccobacilli were observed in the vascular lesion.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24327736/