Pneumonia in foals, primarily due to bacterial, viral or parasitic infections. Respiratory diseases are common in young horses and foals, especially in the range from 1 to 6 months of age, which often have lower respiratory tract infection. Pneumonia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in foals between the ages of 32 to 180 days. One of the main causes of pneumonia in foals aged between 1 and 6 months, the majority of cases occur before 4 months is equal to Rhodococcus bacteria. Inhalation of soil organisms, Rhodococcus equilibrium can lead to chronic and acute pneumonia in young horses, and people with weak immune systems. In addition, ulcerative colitis is a common result of infection in foals, and dissemination from the lungs to other parts of the body is usually either a horse or human. Rhodococcus basically equal to the soil organism but is widespread in the feces of herbivores (animals that eat only plants). Its growth in soil is considerably improved simple nutrients it obtains from herbivore manure. About one-third of human patients who developed infections was equal to R. touch in some way with horses and their droppings. Others may get infected through contact with soil or wild bird manure. Studies show that foal management practices, environmental management, and preventive health practices are risk factors for development of Rhodococcus pneumonia is equal to foals. Housing foals in stalls with dirt floors may increase the risk of pneumonia, R equi. Also breeding farms with large areas, a large number of mares and foals, high foal density, and the population of transient mares and foals are at high risk for foals developing pneumonia caused by R equi. The intestinal form of the disease may be manifested by fever, depression, loss of appetite, weight loss,
, or diarrhea, lameness strattera no prescritpion, nostril flaring and reluctance to move. Heat, pain and severe lameness are characteristics equal to R. septic arthritis. Equine herpesvirus 2 (ultrahigh-2). VP-2 throughout the general horse population. Foals are born free EHV-2 infection but virtually all acquire the infection during the first months of life. Common symptoms of ultrahigh-2 infection include uveitis, nasal discharge, pneumonia, and colic. Parasitic pneumonia is not common in horses, especially with de-worming program today. A typical case involves horses pastured with donkeys infested lungworm, Dictyocaulus arnfieldi. In foals, Parascaris equorum is a more common parasite and because its life cycle involves migration through the lungs, which can cause symptoms of respiratory illness. Diagnosis of parasitic pneumonia is often difficult to obtain, because it can be difficult to determine larval tracheal washes. Parasitic pneumonia should be suspected in foals with a poor deworming history, coughing, nasal discharge and poor response to antimicrobials. Earlier signs of lower respiratory tract infections in foals is probably unusual sounds on auscultation of the lungs, nasal discharge and / or coughing, coughing when they get up or run, respiratory rate above 30 - 40 breaths per minute, or greater efforts of the respiratory system. Crusts can be found in the nostrils, or bone, where the foal may wipe his nose. Nasal discharge, however, may be absent or to detect if the lower respiratory tract into the discharge. Foals with lower respiratory tract often cough while forced to take deep breaths, appear anxious or upset about the fact that in a bag or rebreathing showed prolonged recovery after the bag is removed. In severe cases, abdominal breathing, burning nostrils, cyanosis and pronounced exercise intolerance will be present. While most foals with early disease continue to be bright and alert individuals with severe depression or may be lethargic and anorexic. Some foals with pneumonia do not want to go because of the increased difficulty breathing and may become very weak. Foals from 1 to 6 months will usually have respiratory tract infections, which are not necessarily require treatment. However, if shortness of breath, fever, depression or appetite, leukocytosis (an abnormal large increase in the number of white blood cells in the blood during acute infection) occurs, antibiotic therapy should be initiated immediately. Forecast a favorable outcome is expected in most cases, the foal pneumonia when appropriate antibiotic therapy is started in the early stages of the disease. Links:. File ref HD-100
