BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of equine neorickettsiosis (EN) has been extensively studied but limited clinical and clinicopathological data are available concerning naturally infected horses. HYPOTHESIS: Factors predictive of survival will be identified in horses diagnosed with EN. ANIMALS: Convenience sample of 44 horses with EN admitted to 2 referral institutions. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed. A diagnosis of EN was based on the presence of positive blood or fecal PCR. RESULTS: The most common clinical signs included diarrhea (66%), fever (50%), anorexia (45%), depression (39%), colic (39%), and lameness (18%). The median duration of hospitalization was 6 days and 73% of horses survived to discharge. Laminitis was present in 36% of horses, 88% of which were affected in all 4 feet. Serum creatinine and urea nitrogen concentrations, as well as RBC count, blood hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, band neutrophils, serum AST activity, serum CK activity, and anion gap, were significantly (P < .05) higher in nonsurvivors. Serum chloride and sodium, concentrations as well as duration of hospitalization were significantly lower in nonsurvivors. The results of forward stepwise logistic regression indicated that blood hemoglobin concentration on admission and antimicrobial treatment with oxytetracycline were independent factors associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Severity of colitis as reflected by electrolyte loss, hemoconcentration, and prerenal azotemia were predictors of survival in horses diagnosed with EN. Treatment with oxytetracycline was associated with increased survival.
BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of equine neorickettsiosis (EN) has been extensively studied but limited clinical and clinicopathological data are available concerning naturally infected horses. HYPOTHESIS: Factors predictive of survival will be identified in horses diagnosed with EN. ANIMALS: Convenience sample of 44 horses with EN admitted to 2 referral institutions. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed. A diagnosis of EN was based on the presence of positive blood or fecal PCR. RESULTS: The most common clinical signs included diarrhea (66%), fever (50%), anorexia (45%), depression (39%), colic (39%), and lameness (18%). The median duration of hospitalization was 6 days and 73% of horses survived to discharge. Laminitis was present in 36% of horses, 88% of which were affected in all 4 feet. Serum creatinine and ureanitrogen concentrations, as well as RBC count, blood hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, band neutrophils, serum AST activity, serum CK activity, and anion gap, were significantly (P < .05) higher in nonsurvivors. Serum chloride and sodium, concentrations as well as duration of hospitalization were significantly lower in nonsurvivors. The results of forward stepwise logistic regression indicated that blood hemoglobin concentration on admission and antimicrobial treatment with oxytetracycline were independent factors associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Severity of colitis as reflected by electrolyte loss, hemoconcentration, and prerenal azotemia were predictors of survival in horses diagnosed with EN. Treatment with oxytetracycline was associated with increased survival.
Authors: Diego E Gomez; Mathilde Leclere; Luis G Arroyo; Lynna Li; Emily John; Tiago Afonso; Flavie Payette; Shannon Darby Journal: Can Vet J Date: 2022-10 Impact factor: 1.075
Authors: Francisco A Uzal; Luis G Arroyo; Mauricio A Navarro; Diego E Gomez; Javier Asín; Eileen Henderson Journal: J Vet Diagn Invest Date: 2021-11-11 Impact factor: 1.569
Authors: Luis G Arroyo; Alison Moore; Sofia Bedford; Diego E Gomez; Omid Teymournejad; Qingming Xiong; Khemraj Budachetri; Hannah Bekebrede; Yasuko Rikihisa; John D Baird Journal: Can Vet J Date: 2021-06 Impact factor: 1.008