Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Clinical, pathological, and genetic characterization of Listeria monocytogenes causing sepsis and necrotizing typhlocolitis and hepatitis in a foal.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc
- Year:
- 2012
- Authors:
- Warner, Shayna L et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 5-week-old American Quarter Horse filly became very sick with a fever, low energy, trouble walking, and seizures over two days. She was born healthy at a good breeding facility and had received enough immunity from her mother shortly after birth. Since birth, she had some mild diarrhea that was treated successfully, but her condition worsened after being taken to the hospital, despite receiving prompt and aggressive care. Sadly, she was euthanized because her health continued to decline, and tests showed severe liver damage and inflammation in her intestines caused by a harmful bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. Unfortunately, the treatment did not work, and the foal did not survive.
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from the blood, lungs, and liver of a 5-week-old American Quarter Horse filly that presented with a 2-day history of fever, lethargy, ataxia, and seizure activity. The foal was born on a well-managed breeding facility to a multiparous mare with no periparturient complications. At 8 hr of age, the foal had an adequate passive transfer of immunity (immunoglobulin G > 2,000 mg/dl). Since the time of birth, the foal reportedly had mild, intermittent diarrhea that responded to gastrointestinal protectants and probiotics. Despite prompt and aggressive treatment after hospital referral, the foal's condition deteriorated, and the foal was humanely euthanized. Postmortem gross and histopathologic examination revealed severe hepatitis with necrosis and fibrinonecrotic typhlitis and colitis. In addition to a positive blood culture for L. monocytogenes, immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of this bacterium in the liver, cecum, and colon. Furthermore, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction identified the etiologic organism as a virulent L. monocytogenes strain.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22529130/