Current Understanding of Rhodococcus equi Infection and its Zoonotic Implications

| Rhodococcus equi is a soil actinomycete responsible for severe respiratory disease in young foals leading to high mortality. The organism is also emerging as an important pathogen in immune-compromised humans. Intracellular localization of R. equi makes therapeutic management very difficult and prolonged lasting up to three months. Presently no suitable vaccine and effective serological test for early diagnosis is available. High mortality rate, non-availability of suitable diagnostic methods during early phase of infection and high cost of prolonged treatments makes it a disease of high economic importance and thus is considered among the top most disease problems affecting equine industry globally.