NEONATAL SEPTICAEMIA IN FOALS

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Causative Agent(s)

Due to inadequate maternally derived immunity and insufficient colostrum intake, sepsis results from the normal flora bacterial organisms in neonatal foals with a high mortality rate. The most isolated bacterial organisms from blood culture of the affected foals are Escherichia coli and Actinobacillus spp.

Clinical Presentation and Epidemiology

Common clinical signs are lethargy, diarrhoea, injected mucosae (particularly the sclera), uveitis, respiratory distress, septic arthritis (joint ill) leading to lameness, and diarrhoea. Because the foals are usually not feeding well, the mare’s udders become engorged with milk. It is a principal cause of morbidity and mortality in foals during their first week of life due to inadequate maternally derived immunity because of insufficient intake of colostrum within 24 hours of birth (e.g., dummy foals that cannot suck) or insufficient production and/or poor quality of colostrum. However, the prognosis is guarded

Diagnostic Consideration

Preliminary diagnosis is based on history, clinical signs, and haematology.

Management and Treatment

A combination of penicillin and potentiated sulphonamide, or penicillin and aminoglycoside (e.g., penicillin/streptomycin fixed dose formulation) is recommended. It is important to note that the common practice of administering antibacterial drugs to new-born foals as a prophylactic measure is non-judicious and should not replace encouraging early colostrum intake by the new-born foal and other biosecurity measures in the stable.

Procaine penicillin/Dihydrostreptomycin: 8mg/10mg/kg, q24h x 5 days, IM. Trimethoprim/Sulphonamide: 30mg/kg (1/5 ratio), q12h x 6 days, PO. Gentamicin sulphate: 5-8mg/kg q24h x 3 days, IM.