Salmonella Basics: What You Should Know

Clinically normal horses can shed Salmonella bacteria, especially when stressed. Reports on the percentage of horses shedding Salmonella have ranged from 1.5% to 64.5%, depending on whether the horse was hospitalized (higher numbers). Since stress can cause shedding, transport to the hospital–on top of the ailment requiring hospitalization–often means a high Salmonella

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Clinically normal horses can shed Salmonella bacteria, especially when stressed. Reports on the percentage of horses shedding Salmonella have ranged from 1.5% to 64.5%, depending on whether the horse was hospitalized (higher numbers). Since stress can cause shedding, transport to the hospital–on top of the ailment requiring hospitalization–often means a high Salmonella shedding rate in clinical settings.

In one session during the 2003 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, it was noted that in the clinic, a high heat index–the combination of high environmental temperature and high humidity–has been associated with an increase in equine cases of salmonellosis. There is the possibility for “blooms” of Salmonella under these conditions, and it’s also possible that heat stress might make horses more prone to Salmonella infections.

What Happens?

Within a few hours of infection by Salmonella, a horse can become critically ill. In foals, Salmonella can cause enteritis (gastrointestinal or GI disease), but it also can result in severe septicemia (systemic infection), organ failure, and death. In adult horses, Salmonella can cause signs from mild fever and malaise to severe enterocolitis accompanied by profuse diarrhea, endotoxemia, and eventual death

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Written by:

Kimberly S. Brown is the editor of EquiManagement/EquiManagement.com and the group publisher of the Equine Health Network at Equine Network LLC.

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