- The revised guidelines address clinical signs, risk factors, diagnostic sampling, biosecurity and management of quarantined horses.
- Salmonella shedding can occur in clinically normal horses and is more prevalent among horses with gastrointestinal disease.
- Risk factors include poor environmental hygiene, immunosuppression, stress, commingling and antimicrobial administration.
- Equine salmonellosis can cause fever, diarrhea, leukopenia and colic, with complications including endotoxemia and laminitis.
- Foals may develop more severe systemic disease, including hemorrhagic diarrhea, pneumonia, meningitis, physitis and septic arthritis.
- The guidelines were reviewed and approved by the AAEP Infectious Disease Committee and board of directors.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has published revised Salmonellosis Disease Guidelines designed to help veterinarians evaluate and manage horses infected with Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica.
The updated resource covers clinical signs and risk factors as well as diagnostic sampling, biosecurity practices and considerations for managing quarantined animals.
Shedding and risk factors
Clinically normal horses can transiently shed Salmonella, according to the AAEP. The prevalence of shedding ranges from less than 1% in the general horse population to as high as 13% among horses with gastrointestinal disease.
Factors associated with development of salmonellosis include poor environmental hygiene, immunosuppression, stress, commingling of horses and antimicrobial administration.
Clinical signs and complications
Clinical disease can present with nonspecific signs such as fever, diarrhea, leukopenia and colic. In some cases, infection can lead to endotoxemia and laminitis.
Foals are susceptible to more severe systemic illness. Manifestations can include hemorrhagic diarrhea, pneumonia, meningitis, physitis and septic arthritis.
Brandy Burgess, DVM, MSc, PhD, DACVIM, DACVPM, author of the guidelines, said the revisions incorporate the latest research while emphasizing information relevant to clinical practitioners, particularly risk factors, diagnostic testing, biosecurity and management of quarantined animals.
The resource is intended to support veterinarians both in managing cases in the field and communicating with horse owners.
AAEP review and access
The revised Salmonellosis Disease Guidelines were reviewed and approved by the AAEP Infectious Disease Committee and board of directors. Veterinarians can view the guidelines online or save a PDF version for future reference through the AAEP website.
Information sourced from the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ press release.
