The bacteria enter the body through breaks in the skin and proliferate within the respiratory tissue.
Predisposition is the
of antibiotics in the horse and those that are hospitalized.
Signs & symptoms appears as a skin or soft tissue infection, PRISH, abscess/boil and in severe cases pneumonia. Diagnosis is a bacterial culture and treatment is use of a non-resistant antibiotic, although MRSA is a self-limiting disease. Symptomatic care, such as draining and flushing abscesses is recommended.
Prognosis is good, 80% will recover. A carrier state does exist, but these horses are not infected.
Prevention is proper hygiene and disinfection when necessary.
Brucellosis Brucellosis is caused by the G- coccobacillus Brucella abortus.
Transmission typically occurs though direct contact, ingestion of contaminated feed or water or contact of infected animals or materials with skin abrasions. Cattle are the main reservoir of infection.
The bacteria localizes in muscles, tendons, joints and other soft tissue such as
.
Predisposition include horses pastured with
. Geographical predisposition is the
southern United States, such as Texas & Florida, Mexico & the Caribbean.
Signs and symptoms include fever, abortion in mares, muscle stiffness, reluctance to move, abscessation and drainage of purulent material with risk of secondary infection. Commonly affects the atlantal & supraspinous bursas, manifested as , poll evil, or fistulous bursitis. B. abortus is often difficult to isolate, diagnosis is based on seropositivity. Isolation of another bacterial organism from draining tracts does not rule out the involvement of B. abortus, because it may only reflect secondary colonization. Treatment includes isolation of the horse, proper wound management, antibiotics, DMSO, hot hydrotherapy, possible surgery to remove the necrotic tissue and euthanasia in severe cases.
Prognosis is fair as it may take up to 8-12 months for the skin infections to fully heal.
Prevention includes, proper hygiene, not housing horses with affected cattle, a vaccine is available and using properly fitted tack to prevent trauma from occurring over the affected bursas. This is a reportable disease.
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