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Studies of the pathogenesis of Rhodococcus equi infection in foals
Author(s) -
BARTON M D,
EMBURY D H
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1987.tb06061.x
Subject(s) - rhodococcus equi , foal , corynebacterium , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , pneumonia , horse , incubation period , rhodococcus , incubation , physiology , immunology , bacteria , medicine , enzyme , biochemistry , virulence , paleontology , genetics , gene
SUMMARY Pyogranulomatous pneumonia was induced in Thoroughbred foals by intranasal challenge with freeze‐dried cultures of Rhodococcus equi (previously Corynebacterium equi). The incubation period was about 18 days and clinical signs were not seen for a further week. There were marked seasonal and individual foal differences in responses to infection. Elevations in serum caeruloplasmin oxidase activity and copper concentrations appeared to be sensitive indicators of infection. Serum zinc concentrations and serum a‐mannosidase and alkaline phosphatase activities fell in the more severely infected foals. Use of trace elements and trace element‐related parameters along with faecal culture for ft equi could prove useful for early diagnosis of field cases.