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Rhodococcus equi infection

ISSN 2398-2977

Contributor(s) :

  • Introduction
  • Pathogenesis
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Prevention
  • Outcomes
  • Further Reading
Related Articles Related Client Factsheets Related Images

Introduction

  • Severe pyogranulomatous bronchopneumonia, mainly in foals of 1-4 months old, rare in horses older than 6 months of age.
  • Cause:Rhodococcus equi  Rhodococcus equi   (nowPrescottella equi). Predisposing factors: stress, poor hygiene, environmental contamination, concurrent parasitism.
  • Signs: generally non-specific (fever, inappetence); some cases may show coughing or nasal discharge.
  • Diagnosis: bacteriology and PCR on transtracheal aspirate samples; radiology; ultrasonography; hematology.
  • Treatment: combinations of antibiotics based on susceptibility testing; macrolide and rifampicin.
  • Prognosis: fair to good with appropriate treatment; morbidity up to 80% in outbreaks.
Print off the Owner Factsheet on Rhodococcus equi infection to give to your clients.

Presenting signs

Common

  • Inappetence, fever and depression in foals 1-4 months old.
  • Fever.
  • Lethargy. 
  • Increased respiratory rate and effort (increased abdominal effort, nostrils flaring, tachypnea).
  • Cough.
  • Nasal discharge (inconsistent).

Signs of extra pulmonary rhodococcal infection

  • Gastroenteritis.
  • Severe lameness.
  • Gastroenteritis.
  • Uterine infection with abortion   Abortion: overview  .
  • Neurological deficits.
  • Immune-complex deposition   →   uveitis, hypopyon, anemia, thrombocytopenia.

Acute presentation

  • Acute suppurative bronchopneumonia with dyspnea.

Geographic incidence

  • Worldwide.
  • Sporadic.
  • Common in hot conditions.
  • Enzootic on some farms.
  • May be unrecognized.

Age predisposition

  • 1-4 months.
  • Adults (rare) with the exception of animals with immunodeficiencies.

Public health considerations

  • Humans with immune deficiencies could develop infection.

Cost considerations

  • An important cause of foal loss.
  • Long-term antibiotic therapy is important to avoid relapses.
  • Intensive monitoring of foals during risk periods - daily temperature monitoring, serial monitoring of thoracic ultrasonography and radiography, serial monitoring of leukocyte count and fibrinogen.

Special risks

  • Foals being treated with macrolides are prone to hyperthermia.

Pathogenesis

Etiology

  • Rhodococcus equi  Rhodococcus equi  .
  • Foals infected at an early age by inhalation or ingestion ofR. equi.
  • Fairly prolonged incubation period (9 days to 4 weeks experimentally).
  • R. equiis carried passively in the equine intestine and shed in feces.

Predisposing factors

General
  • Bacterial contamination of environment, especially in dry fecal material.
  • Decline in maternally derived immunity.
  • Immature local respiratory tract immunity in young foals.
  • Stress.
  • Poor hygiene.
  • Parasitism, especially migrating larvae.
  • Immune compromise.
  • Poor ventilation/dusty environment.

Specific

  • Virulent strains ofR. equi; presence of VaPA plasmid.
  • Equine herpesvirus   Equine herpesvirus  , may be a trigger for the development of rhodococcal pneumonia.
  • Genetic predisposition has been suggested.

Pathophysiology

  • Infection likely occurs shortly after birth, clinical signs rarely seen prior to one month of age.
  • Inhalation ofR. equiin dust   →   survives in alveolar macrophages   →    pyogranulomatous inflammation   →    abscesses in lungs and hilar lymph nodes   →    progressive destruction of lung tissue   →    acute or chronic suppurative bronchopneumonia.
  • Stimulates development of acute or chronic pyogranulomatous pneumonia.
  • Hematogenous spread from lungs or gastrointestinal system   →   septic arthritis/osteomyelitis.
  • Immune-complex deposition   →   polysynovitis and uveitis, hypopyon, anemia, thrombocytopenia.
  • Abscesses may form in intestines and mesenteric lymph nodes following ingestion of the organism or hematogenous spread from pulmonary infection.
  • Villous atrophy, intestinal ulceration and peritonitis contribute to diarrhea, weight loss and poor growth.
  • Organism may also localize in joints, bones, spleen, uterus or skin.
  • Rare manifestations:
    • Ulcerative lymphangitis.
    • Cellulitis.
    • Subcutaneous swellings and abscessation.
    • Uveitis.
    • Panophthalmitis.
    • Nephritis.
    • Hepatic and renal abscessation.
  • Vertebral or paravertebral body abscessation.

Timecourse

  • Incubation period: experimental data suggest 9 days to 4 weeks.
  • Foals are generally infected at a very young age.

Epidemiology

  • R. equipresent in feed   →   passes through (and may proliferate in) intestinal tract of healthy horses and other herbivores   →   contamination of pasture and bedding with infected fecal material   →   transmitted by inhalation of dust or ingestion.
  • Congenital infection may also occur, via umbilical or mucous membrane exposure.

Diagnosis

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Treatment

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Prevention

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Outcomes

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Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

  • Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
  • Giles C et al (2014) Rhodococcus equi (Prescottella equi) vaccines: the future of vaccine development. Equine Vet J 47 (5), 510-518 PubMed.
  • Venner M, Credner N, Lammer M & Giguere S (2013) Comparison of tulathromycin, azithromycin and azithromycin-rifampin for the treatment of mild pnuemonia associated with Rhodococcus equi. Vet Rec 173 (16), 397 PubMed.
  • Boyen F, Pasmans F & Haesebrouck F (2011) Acquired antimicrobial resistance in equine Rhodococcus equi isolates. Vet Rec 168 (4), 101 PubMed. 
  • Giguere S et al (2011) Diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention of infections caused by Rhodococcus equi. J Vet Intern Med 25 (6), 1209-1220 PubMed.
  • Giguere S et al (2011) Rhodococcus equi: Clinical manifestations, virulence and immunity. J Vet Intern Med 25 (6), 1221-1230 PubMed.
  • Reuss S M, Chaffin M K & Cohen N D (2009) Extrapulmonary disorders associated with Rhodococcus equi infection in foals: 150 cases (1987). JAVMA 253 (7), 855-863 PubMed.
  • Davis E (2008) Rhodococcus equi in adult horses. Equine Vet Educ 20 (2), 72-73 Wiley Online Library.
  • Waldridge B M, Morresey P R, Loynachan A T et al (2008) Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in an adult horse. Equine Vet Educ 20 (2), 67-71 VetMedResource.
  • Muscatello G, Leadon D, Klay M, Meijer W & Gilkerson J (2007) Rhodococcus equi infection in foals: the science of 'Rattles'. Equine Vet J 39 (5), 470-478 PubMed.
  • Janicek J C et al (2006) Intracranial abscess caused by Rhodococcus equi infection in a foal. JAVMA 228 (2), 251-253 PubMed.
  • Cohen N D et al (2005) Study of serum amyloid A concentrations as a means of achieving early diagnosis of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia. Equine Vet J 37 (3), 212-216 PubMed.
  • Chaffin M K, Cohen N D et al (2003) Foal-related risk factors associated with development of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia on farms with endemic infection. JAVMA 233 (12), 1791-1799 PubMed.
  • Chaffin M K, Cohen N D & Martens R J (2003) Evaluation of equine breeding farm management and preventative health practices as risk factors for development of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals. JAVMA 222 (4), 476-485 PubMed.
  • Chaffin M K, Cohen N D & Martens R J (2003) Evaluation of equine breeding farm characteristics as risk factors for development of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals. JAVMA 222 (4), 467-475 PubMed.
  • Ainsworth D M (1999) Rhodococcal infection in foals. Equine Vet Educ 11 (4), 191-198 VetMedResource.
  • Baverud V et al (1998) Clostridium difficile associated with acute colitis in mares when their foals are treated with erythromycin and rifampicin for Rhodococcus equi infection. Equine Vet J 30, 482-488 VetMedResource.
  • Giguere S & Prescott J F (1997) Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Rhodococcus equi infections in foals. Vet Microbiol 56 (3-4), 313-334 VetMedResource.
  • Paradis M R (1997) Cutaneous and musculoskeletal manifestations of Rhodococcus equi infection in foals. Equine Vet Educ 9, 266-270 VetMedResource.
  • Takai S (1997) Epidemiology of Rhodococcus equi infections - a review. Vet Microbiol 56 (3-4), 167-176 VetMedResource.
  • Clarke A F (1989) Management and housing practices in relation to Rhodococcus equi infection of foals. Equine Vet Educ 1 (1), 30-32 VetMedResource.
  • Leadon D P (1989) An outbreak involving six cases of Rhodococcus equi on a studfarm. Equine Vet Educ 1 (1), 23-24 VetMedResource.
  • Keen P M (1989) Pharmacology and treatment of Rhodococcus equi infection. Equine Vet Educ 1 (1), 28-29 Ve
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