This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Szeredi, L. Articles by Del Piero, F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Szeredi, L. Articles by Del Piero, F.

Two Cases of Equine Abortion Caused by Rhodococcus equi

Abstract

Rhodococcus equi was isolated from lung, liver, spleen, and stomach content of two aborted equine fetuses of 7 and 8 months gestation from two different farms. Lesions included diffuse pyogranulomatous pneumonia with numerous Gram-positive coccobacilli within the cytoplasm of macrophages, multinucleated Langhans giant cells and neutrophils, and enhanced extramedullary hematopoiesis with megakaryocytosis within the liver and spleen. Detection of R. equi was made by bacteriology and immunohistochemistry for R. equi and VapA, the virulence factor of R. equi. R. equi and VapA were identified within the lungs of both fetuses, and its distribution correlated with lesions. Fetal lesions were similar to those observed in foals. We speculate that the fetuses contracted infection from the placenta by normal breathing movements or by swallowing of the amniotic fluid contaminated with R. equi.

Key words: Abortion; equine; immunohistochemistry; Rhodococcus equi; virulence-associated antigens.

Request reprints from Dr. Levente Szeredi, Central Veterinary Institute, Budapest Tábornok u. 2, H-1149 (Hungary). E-mail: szeredil{at}oai.hu.