OBJECTIVE To determine gene expression of selected molecular markers (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, interleukin [IL]-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, procalcitonin [PCT], and transforming growth factor [TGF]-beta) in the blood of healthy and sick foals. ANIMALS 28 sick foals without sepsis, 21 foals with sepsis, and 21 healthy foals. PROCEDURES Total RNA was extracted from blood samples and c...

The aims of the present work were to evaluate hemogram, acute phase response acid base balance and blood gas analysis in newborn foals infected with Babesiosis. Thirty three newborn foals were infected with Babesia spp. and ten clinically normal foals served as controls. There was a significant reduction in the mean values, TRBc, Hb, PCV in diseased newborn foals infected with Babesiosis and an...

The purpose of this paper is to describe a standardized bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) technique used in 11 clinically healthy foals from one week of age to2 months of age. All foals successfully underwent this procedure five times at different ages. This technique was performed under intravenous general anesthesia with no apparent complications. In our experience, performing transendoscopic BAL ...

In 2011, following severe flooding in Eastern Australia, an unprecedented epidemic of equine encephalitis occurred in South-Eastern Australia, caused by Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) and a new variant strain of Kunjin virus, a subtype of West Nile virus (WNVKUN). This prompted us to assess whether a delta inulin-adjuvanted, inactivated cell culture-derived Japanese encephalitis virus ...

BACKGROUND Rhodococcus equi is an important pathogen of foals. Enteral administration of live, virulent R. equi during early life has been documented to protect against subsequent intrabronchial challenge with R. equi, indicating that enteral mucosal immunization may be protective. Evidence exists that mucosal immune responses develop against both live and inactivated micro-organisms. The exten...

BACKGROUND Adverse effects of, and bacterial resistance to, macrolides used to treat Rhodococcus equi infections have prompted search for clinically effective alternative antimicrobials. Liposomal gentamicin (LG) is effective against R. equi in vitro and decreases tissue concentrations of R. equi in experimentally infected mice. Effectiveness of LG treatment of foals with R. equi pneumonia, how...

There is currently no licensed vaccine that protects foals against Rhodococcus equi-induced pneumonia. Oral administration of live, virulent R. equi to neonatal foals has been demonstrated to protect against subsequent intrabronchial challenge with virulent R. equi. Electron beam (eBeam)-inactivated R. equi are structurally intact and have been demonstrated to be immunogenic when administered o...

OBJECTIVE To determine clinical characteristics, clinicopathologic data, and bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility results associated with septic arthritis in foals ≤ 180 days old. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 83 foals with septic arthritis. PROCEDURES Medical records at 2 teaching hospitals between 1998 and 2013 were searched to identify those for foals ≤ 180 da...

BACKGROUND A variety of measures of L-lactate concentration ([LAC]) in the blood of critically ill neonatal foals have shown utility as prognostic indicators. These measures, evaluating either the severity of hyperlactatemia or the duration of exposure to hyperlactatemia, perform fairly well and have correctly classified 75-80% of foals examined in several studies. The area under the L-lactate ...

BACKGROUND Gamithromycin is active in vitro against the bacterial agents most commonly associated with bronchopneumonia in older foals. However, the clinical efficacy and safety of this drug have not been investigated. HYPOTHESIS Gamithromycin is effective for the treatment of bronchopneumonia in foals. ANIMALS One hundred and twenty-one foals on a farm endemic for infections caused by Rhod...