In foals, salmonellosis often leads to septicemia, which causes all the symptoms seen in adults as well as septic arthritis, high fever and death. In pregnant mares salmonellosis may lead to abortion. Diagnosis of salmonellosis is made through the observation of clinical signs, the isolation of salmonella bacteria in feces and by serology revealing leukopenia. In some cases, supportive care such as intravenous fluid & electrolyte administration and non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is sufficient treatment. DMSO & antidiarrheal medications can also aid in symptomatic relief. Antibiotics should only be used in cases of septicemia as antibiotics can and prolong the acute phase of salmonellosis. The use of some antibiotics can predispose a horse to salmonellosis as they kill the normal gastrointestinal flora. By doing so, those antibiotics remove organisms that would otherwise limit the population growth of salmonella. Prognosis is good with prompt treatment. A chronic carrier state of salmonellosis is also recognized. These individuals have periodic bouts of acute disease and may continually shed bacteria into the environment. individuals affected by salmonellosis for an extended period after recovery as the disease is easily transmitted and individuals may shed bacteria in feces for months after recovery. These factors make it important to ensure thorough sanitization of the environment and of any equipment used around individuals affected by salmonellosis as salmonella bacteria can live in soil and bedding for years, causing sporadic, recurring outbreaks of disease. It is prudent to Any case of diarrhea should be handled with care and proper hygiene. Besides salmonella, other infectious agents causing diarrhea include: caused by the protozoa cryptosporidium parvum (type II). It is transmitted through direct contact with infective oocysts that are shed in feces, contaminated food, water & fomites. Foals (5-8 weeks) and those that are immunocompromised are at higher risk. Signs & symptoms range from mild, self-limiting diarrhea, to rapidly fatal. Dehydration, anorexia, weight loss is also seen. The disease can appear subclinical in immunocompetent animals. Diagnosis is bacterial culture and treatment is self-limiting, IV fluids and symptomatic care. Clostridium Difficile, a bacterial cause of diarrhea and Giardiasis a parasite leading to diarrhea have not been proven to be zoonotic, but both can occur in humans and horses so theoretically there is a risk for transmission.
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