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Tibial osteomyelitis caused by R hodococcus equi in a mature horse
Author(s) -
Kilcoyne I.,
Nieto J.,
Vaughan B.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
equine veterinary education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 2042-3292
pISSN - 0957-7734
DOI - 10.1111/eve.12038
Subject(s) - medicine , horse , osteomyelitis , cellulitis , gentamicin , tibia , abscess , laminitis , surgery , subcutaneous abscess , streptococcus equi , penicillin , cloxacillin , staphylococcus aureus , antimicrobial , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , paleontology , genetics , bacteria , biology
Summary A 7‐year‐old P aint mare presented for evaluation of a swollen right hindlimb of approximately 6 weeks' duration. Ultrasonography and radiography suggested a severe osteomyelitis and abscessation of the right tibia. Previous treatment included systemic antimicrobial therapy using procaine penicillin G (22,000 u/kg bwt, q. 12 h, i.m.) and gentamicin sulfate (6.6 mg/kg bwt, q. 24 h, i.v.) initially followed by oral doxycycline (10 mg/kg bwt, q. 12 h, per os ) and rifampin (5 mg/kg bwt, q. 12 h, per os ). Based on the poor prognosis the mare was subjected to euthanasia. Necropsy results subsequently revealed a severe, chronic, focal, necrotising osteomyelitis with localised cellulitis and abscessation. R hodococcus equi was isolated from the tibia, subcutaneous abscess and from a pectoral abscess found at necropsy. Immunological testing of blood samples obtained ante mortem revealed normal blood lymphocyte phenotyping, but markedly increased I g G and I g M concentrations, indicating an active humoural response. While there have been reports of R hodococcus equi infection in mature horses this is an area previously unreported in the literature.